Mumbai – One of the three planned hostel buildings on the Acworth Leprosy Hospital campus is nearly complete and set to open in the coming months, offering long-awaited relief to around 1,200 resident doctors from KEM Hospital.
For years, resident doctors have raised concerns over cramped living conditions, inadequate hostel space, and the toll of lengthy commutes after exhausting shifts. The existing hostel setup includes two facilities on the KEM campus—one for UG/PG students and another for Resident Medical Officers—along with additional, but limited, accommodations at Sewri, Prabhadevi, and Currey Road.
Women Doctors at Higher Risk Due to Commute
“These hostels become especially problematic for doctors working long hours, particularly for women who have to travel at odd hours,” said a KEM resident doctor. “Once the new hostel opens, it will help ease the pressure and allow more students to live on campus.”
The new Acworth complex spans 2,064.66 sq mt within the hospital’s 69,000 sq mt campus and has been built on the site of a former OPD building. It is divided into three wings, and the first building is expected to be operational by July 2025.
UG Students First in Line for Rooms
According to KEM Dean Dr Sangeeta Ravat, the new facility will primarily house undergraduate students, as PG students are already prioritized for the limited on-campus housing.
Sion, Too, Gets a Boost in Hostel Infrastructure
The issue isn’t limited to KEM. A resident doctor from Sion Hospital said poor hostel conditions persist across all BMC-run hospitals. “A new 15-storey hostel building near Sion Hospital is also under construction and is likely to be handed over this year,” the doctor said. Half of that facility is expected to be allotted to nursing students.
The new infrastructure is seen as a step forward in improving living conditions for frontline medical trainees and staff, especially those grappling with grueling schedules and inadequate housing.
