The BMC and Mumbaikars have ended up paying an additional Rs 1.37 crore for basic blood and pathology tests at VN Desai Hospital, Santacruz, as the administration, despite having the facilities for the tests, sent samples to a private lab under the Aapli Chikitsa scheme. This has come to light following an RTI query filed by mid-day. As part of the scheme, samples are sent to a third-party private lab if the facility is not available at that health centre. For basic tests, patients pay Rs 50 while BMC pays Rs 223. For advanced tests, a patient has to pay Rs 100 while the civic body pays Rs 892 per test.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had started the Aapli Chikitsa scheme, aimed at improving laboratory services offered to citizens, at its peripheral hospitals, maternity homes and dispensaries making a provision to send samples from patients to an appointed private lab for tests which are not available at the centre.