The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has condemned the vandalism of a hospital in Pune following the death of a pregnant woman who was denied admission.
IMA Maharashtra condemns violence and vandalism at Pune hospitals after a pregnant woman's death and defends medical protocols and criticizing irresponsible public statements.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has condemned the vandalism of a hospital in Pune following the death of a pregnant woman who was denied admission.
Tanisha Bhise, wife of BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe's secretary, was refused admission at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital on March 31 due to a ₹10 lakh deposit requirement.
As per her family, a doctor called - Dr. Sushrut Ghaisas - asked for ₹5 lakhs upfront, but they could only pay ₹3 lakh initially, with the rest in installments. Due to this, the hospital allegedly denied admission and asked the family to shift elsewhere.
Tanisha had reportedly been experiencing bleeding since March 28 and was rushed to Surya Hospital in Wakad, where she delivered twin girls. She was later transferred to Manipal Hospital in Baner, where she passed away due to multi-organ failure
BJP, Shiv Sena, and Congress workers protested at a Pune hospital over this incident, vandalizing offices, holding a "tirdi" protest, and throwing ink, demanding charges of culpable homicide against the hospital and doctors.
"It is deeply disheartening that amidst mourning, mob justice has found a foothold," said Dr Kadam, in a press release highlighting that Dr Ghaisas and two generations of his family have served the city with dedication and dignity.
The IMA says requesting deposits from patients is standard practice in private hospitals, with consultants receiving only 8-10% of total billing. They're opposing Pune Municipal Corporation's directive to stop collecting deposits
In a press release, the IMA stated, "We support the principle of 'life before ledger' in emergencies, but blanket directives ignore the functional realities of elective surgeries, chronic treatments, and long-term care, which necessitate financial structures like deposits," it said in the release.
The association further clarified that charitable hospitals, which receive certain government benefits, are rightly expected to operate under different standards. However, it is unfair to apply the same expectations to unsubsidised private nursing homes that function independently.
The IMA appealed to the civic authorities to reconsider and withdraw generalised directives.