India’s fight against tuberculosis (TB) is a tough one—we carry over a quarter of the world’s cases—and right in the middle of it, Mumbai’s Sewri TB Hospital wants to upgrade further. This 83-year-old giant, Asia’s biggest TB facility, wants to step up and claim Centre of Excellence (CoE) status. Picture this: a place that’s not just treating patients but leading the charge with research, training, and top-notch care. With new upgrades, a first-of-its-kind palliative ward, and hints of government support, Sewri’s dreaming big. But is this the real deal for TB care in India, or just a fancy title hiding bigger problems? Let’s walk through what’s happening and figure it out together.
A TB Hospital With a Past—and a Load of Challenges
Sewri TB Hospital, or the Group of TB Hospitals if we’re being formal, opened its doors in 1942. With 1,000 beds spread across 70 acres, it’s been a rock for Mumbai’s public health scene, taking on TB and lung troubles for decades. But it hasn’t been an easy ride. The place has seen its share of tough days—too many patients, walls falling apart, and, sadly, people walking out before they’re cured. Just last August, the Times of India dropped a story about 80 patients slipping away over four years. Why? Cramped rooms, rough conditions, and the mental toll—it’s a lot to handle.
Still, Sewri’s not giving up. Last October, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which keeps it running, rolled out something special: India’s first palliative care ward for TB patients right here. It’s a 20-bed setup, almost ready to go, meant to comfort those in the final stages of TB.
Dr. Lancelot Pinto from PD Hinduja Hospital called it a “big step” in a Free Press Journal chat on October 25, 2024. It’s a sign Sewri’s trying to do more than just patch people up.
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The Centre of Excellence Status for Sewri TB Hospital
Now, as of March 2025, the talk’s getting louder—Sewri wants to be a Centre of Excellence. Nothing’s set in stone yet; the Union Health Ministry and BMC haven’t made it official. But word around the HealthViews India office is that things started heating up after Thiruvananthapuram Medical College got CoE status for trauma and burns care in January (The Hindu, January 10, 2025). The goal for Sewri? Turn it into a powerhouse for TB—think research breakthroughs, doctor training, and better treatment, like the big names, AIIMS or JIPMER, do for their specialties.
Why now? TB’s a monster here—2.8 million cases in 2023, says the WHO, and Mumbai alone sees 60,000+ every year (BMC numbers). Sewri’s juggling 800-900 patients at a time, so it’s already in the thick of it.
A Indian Express story from July 2024 lit a fire under everyone—doctors living in rundown staff quarters with leaking roofs and no steady power. Since then, the BMC’s been busy, putting out tenders for new equipment and isolation wards (March 14, 2024).
What Could CoE Status Bring to Sewri Hospital?
If Sewri pulls this off, it’d be huge. We’re talking:
- New Ideas: Research for better TB drugs or tests, especially with drug-resistant cases hitting 130,000+ a year (WHO).
- Teaching Ground: Training doctors and nurses from all over, tackling our shortage of TB experts.
- Better Care: Nicer wards, mental health help, good food—stuff to keep patients from running off and get them well.
That palliative ward’s just the start. Dr. Pinto pointed out how TB can leave people broken—scarred lungs, no strength—and regular care often skips that part. A CoE could change the whole approach, blending kindness with medicine.
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The Push From Above for TB Elimination by 2030
The government seems into this CoE idea lately. The Health Ministry’s planning three AI-focused centres by 2028 (Hindustan Times, October 15, 2024) and tossed five skilling centres into the 2025 Budget (Hindustan Times, February 1, 2025). Sewri fits right into the National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination by 2030—it’s all about fresh thinking and solid setups.
On the ground, the BMC’s not messing around. That palliative ward’s nearly here, and they’re working on fixing those 50-year-old staff quarters (Indian Express, July 24, 2024). Even Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s pitching in with a Sewri-Worli connector road by December 2025 (Times of India, June 29, 2024)—it’s not direct, but it’ll make the hospital easier to reach.
What do you think? Can the Group of TB Hospitals pull off this big leap? Drop us a line at HealthViews India
