Pune: Concerns Raised Over New Appointment at Sassoon General Hospital

Pune: There is controversy surrounding the appointment of Dr. Yellapa Jadhav as the new medical superintendent of Sassoon General Hospital (SGH). Dr. Vinayak Kale, the dean of B J Medical College (BJMC) attached to SGH, has raised concerns regarding Dr. Jadhav’s eligibility for the post. This could potentially impact the hospital’s accreditation for training courses.

In a letter dated April 22, addressed to the director of medical education and research (DMER), Dr. Kale highlighted that Dr. Jadhav, an associate professor, does not meet the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) requirement of having at least five years of experience as a professor to qualify for the role of a medical superintendent.

Dr. Kale warned, “The NMC inspection expected soon might question the suitability of an associate professor holding the superintendent’s position, which could hinder the recognition of our training programs.” He also recalled past incidents involving Dr. Jadhav, including his removal from a previous administrative role due to alleged misconduct, and another incident where his office staff was implicated in a corruption probe.

These past incidents, according to Dr Kale, make Dr Jadhav’s appointment questionable: “Considering the facts and past incidents, it won’t be justified to give Dr Jadhav charge of medical superintendent of SGH. Instead, other senior professors from the college or hospital might be considered.”

The appointment followed closely after Dr Ajay Tawre was ordered to step down as medical superintendent following a tragic incident where a patient in the intensive care unit allegedly died due to multiple rat bites. This incident also led to the suspension of several staff members for negligence.

Dr Deelip Mhaisekar of the DMER supported the decision to appoint Dr Jadhav, stating, “Such decisions are taken after due diligence and discussion. The DMER and colleges are obliged to follow the directions of the medical education commissioner.”

The controversy continues as the medical community awaits the upcoming NMC inspection, which will be crucial in determining the future of medical training accreditation at Sassoon General Hospital.