Fear, not funds, keeps doctors away from Sewri TB Hospital

Despite monthly salaries of up to ₹2 lakh on offer, Mumbai's premier TB facility struggles to staff its critical care unit as doctors shy away from the high-risk environment.

- Rupsa Chakraborty

offered salaries ranging from ₹1.25 lakh to ₹2 lakh per month—well above average for public-sector intensivists—to staff the IRCU. Yet, despite three rounds of recruitment since 2024, the city's largest TB hospital has failed to fill these critical positions. "It isn't about the money," admitted a senior BMC health official on condition of anonymity. "Doctors are simply hesitant to work in a TB hospital. There is a fear of infection, although with proper diet and adherence to protocols, the risk is minimal."