Charitable Hospitals In Pune Under Scanner After Deenanath Controversy: Govt Orders Strict Compliance With Free Treatment Norms

Pune, April 5, 2025

Following the controversy surrounding the death of a pregnant woman allegedly denied admission at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital over a ₹10 lakh deposit demand, the Maharashtra government has moved swiftly to tighten monitoring of charitable hospitals across the state.

The government has directed all hospitals registered under charitable trusts to strictly follow guidelines that mandate free and concessional treatment for economically weaker patients. These hospitals benefit from significant government concessions, including subsidised land, reduced utility bills, and exemptions on medical equipment and income tax. For instance, some hospitals, such as Deenanath Mangeshkar, have been allotted land on a 99-year lease for just ₹1 per year.

Despite these privileges, several charitable hospitals have been criticised for operating like corporate healthcare facilities, often failing to provide free or affordable care to the indigent, as required by law. The appearance of these hospitals can be misleading to poor patients, who may assume they are private institutions.

A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that CM Devendra Fadnavis has taken serious note of the Pune incident. A committee, led by the Joint Charity Commissioner of Pune, has been appointed to conduct a detailed inquiry.

List of Charitable Hospitals in Pune (As per Charity Commission Records):

• N.M. Wadia Institute of Cardiology
• Poona Hospital and Research Centre
• K.E.M. Hospital
• Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital
• Mai Mangeshkar Hospital
• Sahyadri Hospital
• Mahatma Gandhi Netra Rugnalaya
• Sanjeevan Hospital
• Jehangir Hospital

and many more

Government Guidelines for Charitable Hospitals:

• 10% of total beds must be reserved for indigent patients (annual income up to ₹50,000) with completely free treatment.
• Another 10% should cater to the weaker section (income between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh) at subsidised rates.
• Hospitals must contribute 2% of their total billing towards an Indigent Patient Fund (IPF) for treating underprivileged patients.

The Chief Minister’s Office also announced:

• Charitable hospitals must now seek clearance via the online Charity Hospital Help Desk for admissions under the reserved quota.
• A total of 186 new posts for charitable healthcare workers have been approved and are to be filled urgently.
• Hospitals must update their IPF account details on the Charity Commissioner’s portal regularly.
• Facilities that fail to adhere to the court-directed charitable patient scheme will face strict legal action.

This move signals a clear message from the state government: public benefit must be at the forefront when availing tax breaks and land concessions under charitable trust status.