The two private diagnostic labs given the contract under BMC’s Aapli Chikitsa scheme are not following the clause of getting third-party quality checks, the civic vigilance department stated in a circular. As per the contract, these two labs are supposed to send 1 per cent of the total samples they receive daily from civic-run health facilities to another lab for external quality checks.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, as part of its Aapli Chikitsa scheme aimed at providing better and affordable healthcare facilities to Mumbaikars, offers more than 100 basic and advanced diagnostic tests at its health facilities at subsidised rates. Two private laboratories were given tender to test all samples from civic health centres, such as dispensaries and clinics, which do not have testing equipment.