THE committee probing into the death of a pregnant woman, allegedly denied admission by Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune for a Rs 10 lakh deposit, has indicted the establishment for violating norms that prohibited charitable hospitals from demanding advance payments in emergency cases. The four-member committee, headed by the state health department Joint Director Dr Radhakishan Pawar, submitted its report to the Pune police on Monday. Tanisha Bhise, wife of the Personal Secretary of BJP Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Amit Gorkhe, was first allegedly refused admission at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital over non-payment of a Rs 10 lakh deposit. Subsequently, she died at another facility after giving birth to twin daughters.

 

The State Government last week ordered an inquiry into the incident by a committee under the joint director of the State health department. The committee’s report stated, “As per the scheme to be followed by charitable hospitals for effective implementation of the Bombay Public Trust Act, in an emergency, they must admit the patient immediately and provide essential medical facilities for life-saving emergency treatment till stabilisation.”

 

It pointed out that a charitable hospital should not ask for a deposit in case of admission of an emergency patient. The report stated that the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital had violated these norms, and a recommendation has been made to the Charity Commissioner to take action. It noted that the hospital, in its report, said the patient, who was on the premises for five and half hours, left without informing the management.