Mumbai, October 8, 2025 — In a concerning development, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been dirhhected by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) to pay ₹12 lakh as compensation after it was revealed that ward boys at Shatabdi Hospital, a civic-run facility, were performing electrocardiograms (ECGs) on patients prior to surgery.
The issue came to light following a complaint filed by a patient, which was subsequently investigated by the SHRC. The Commission expressed astonishment at the situation, stating, “Never dreamt of such a situation prevailing in the hospital run by one of the richest municipal corporations in the country.”
Upon inquiry, the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer confirmed that ECGs were being conducted by ward boys who, based on their length of service, were deemed capable of performing the procedure. Notably, the position of ECG technician had been vacant for over a year, leading to the delegation of this critical task to untrained personnel.
The SHRC emphasized the necessity of specialized training in healthcare, highlighting that even minor errors in medical procedures could have severe consequences. The Commission further noted that patients expect high-quality care in municipal hospitals and should not be subjected to substandard practices.
In its ruling, the SHRC directed the BMC to immediately appoint qualified ECG technicians at Shatabdi Hospital and to pay ₹12 lakh to the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority within a month. The compensation is intended to address the violation of patients’ rights and to underscore the importance of maintaining professional standards in healthcare settings.