Pune: Mismanagement Allegations Lead to Closure of PMC-Run Dialysis Centre at Kamala Nehru General Hospital
Mangalwar Peth, 16th December 2023: In response to numerous patient complaints about mismanagement and inadequate care at Kamala Nehru General Hospital, operated by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the health department of the civic body has taken decisive action. A stop-work notice has been issued to the organization managing the dialysis center.
Furthermore, the Lion’s Club of Pune, Mukundnagar, Charitable Trust, has been formally requested to surrender three dialysis machines and the allocated space for its services at a hospital in Mangalwar Peth.
A senior PMC official stated that the Lion’s Club chapter, overseeing the dialysis center for the past seven years and serving over 40,000 patients, has been notified to cease operations. The organization is directed to hand over the three dialysis machines to the local government. This decision stems from persistent complaints and a perceived disregard for the terms and conditions of their contract to manage the center. Of the fifteen dialysis machines at the facility, twelve belonged to the agency, and three were owned by PMC.
On November 20, the agency received a stop-work notice with a one-month timeframe to take necessary actions. Earlier this year, the PMC had issued two show-cause notices in response to multiple complaints. During a site inspection on October 4, the PMC found the facility locked. Alarming findings included the improper disposal of biomedical waste for at least a year and the absence of a nephrologist. Proper storage or disposal of biomedical waste is crucial to prevent infections in patients.
To ensure treatment continuity, patients from this location are currently being transferred to neighboring dialysis facilities, as confirmed by a senior PMC official. The city boasts a total of 55 machines across seven additional centers, each charging Rs 400 for a dialysis session. In contrast, commercial centers charge significantly higher, ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per session.
