Mumbai
Maharashtra
Specialized Spine Care for the City That Never Stops
Mumbai -a city of contrasts. Towering skyscrapers stand beside crowded chawls, and luxury clinics exist mere minutes away from underserved settlements. As India’s financial and cultural capital, Mumbai is constantly on the move. But for many of its residents, especially those from lower-income neighborhoods and informal sectors, chronic spinal pain brings that movement to a halt.
Behind the city’s glimmering skyline lies a population of daily wage workers, domestic helpers, delivery personnel, and street vendors—people whose bodies bear the weight of Mumbai’s fast-paced life. Long hours of physical labor, poor posture, inadequate medical guidance, and delayed diagnoses make them especially vulnerable to spinal ailments such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and sciatica. In a city that never sleeps, too many silently endure pain simply because specialized care is either unaffordable or inaccessible.
Understanding this harsh reality, The Spine Foundation has extended its mission of equitable spine care to the urban corridors of Mumbai. While much of TSF’s work has traditionally focused on rural and tribal regions, the Foundation recognizes that even in major metros, healthcare access is deeply unequal. Through collaborations with local hospitals, charitable clinics, and community organizations, TSF has begun reaching those often overlooked by the mainstream medical system.
One such powerful story is that of Savita Shashikant Remje, a laborer from the small village of Ainekher near Chiplun. For years, Savita endured excruciating leg pain while doing physically demanding jobs—cleaning, weeding fields, gathering cashew nuts—just to provide for her family. When the pain became unbearable, she started walking with a stick. Eventually, she was bedridden, unable to move at all.
Her turning point came when her son Sushant, working at V.N. Desai Hospital in Mumbai, reached out to The Spine Foundation. Savita’s case was taken up immediately—and she became the 1000th patient to receive free spinal surgery through TSF.
Today, Savita walks again, a living symbol of resilience and hope. Her story bridges two worlds—rural hardship and urban medical outreach—and reminds us why TSF’s work in cities like Mumbai matters.
A key milestone in this journey was the launch of urban spine health camps across various pockets of Mumbai, including densely populated areas like Dharavi, Govandi, and Kurla. These camps bring expert spine surgeons, physiotherapists, and diagnostic tools directly into the communities that need them most. For many patients, it is their first time receiving a detailed spinal examination or speaking with a specialist.
In addition to diagnostics and consultations, TSF has also supported complex spinal surgeries at affiliated charitable hospitals in Mumbai. Patients who were once bedridden due to slipped discs or severe scoliosis are now regaining mobility, independence, and dignity—thanks to timely surgical intervention made possible by The Spine Foundation’s donor-supported initiatives.
But care in Mumbai isn’t just clinical—it’s holistic. TSF also hosts awareness drives and educational workshops in slums, schools, and local health centers. These sessions cover essential topics such as posture correction, ergonomic movement for laborers, lifting safety, and early symptom detection. By empowering people with knowledge, TSF is not just healing spines—it’s preventing further injury.
Mumbai is a city of ambition and momentum. But without a strong spine—figuratively and literally—that drive cannot be sustained. TSF’s presence in Mumbai is a reminder that even in the heart of urban sophistication, compassionate, affordable, and inclusive healthcare remains a pressing need.
Join Us in Making a Difference
The Spine Foundation’s work in Mumbai reflects its broader mission: that no person, rural or urban, should suffer silently from treatable spine conditions. With continued support from donors, medical professionals, and community volunteers, TSF is rewriting what accessible healthcare looks like in India’s largest cities. Together, we can help Mumbai stand tall—one spine at a time.
