In its 2024-25 budget announcements on Friday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) stated that it would implement a ‘zero prescription’ policy specifically for Mumbai residents. This policy is expected to exclude individuals travelling from distant locations to avail of quality and affordable treatment in the city. The policy entails maintaining an adequate stock of medicine and avoiding prescriptions that would require patients to purchase from private medical stores.

Claiming the zero prescription initiative to be the world’s first, civic commissioner and administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal explained, “If someone is coming from Surat, Ahmedabad, or someplace in the North or any other city for treatment, why should we provide it free for them? We have not taken responsibility for the entire country; we are only here for Mumbai.” Outsiders will instead be charged double the amount a Mumbai resident would pay.