Out of the 35 malaria cases found by BMC’s F South ward this month, 54 per cent of the cases were diagnosed among the migrated patients staying on the footpath outside hospitals such as Tata Memorial and KEM.

The F-South ward consists of municipal and government hospitals such as Tata Memorial Centre for cancer patients, KEM, and Wadia where poor people from outside the city as well as state come for treatment due to low-cost fees. While most of them migrate for a few weeks or months from their native state, they reside on the footpaths as they can’t afford to stay in a hotel, lodge, or rent a house.