Pune: Show-Cause Notices Issued to 12 Government Hospitals Over Poor Hygiene and Maintenance
Pune: Show-Cause Notices Issued to 12 Government Hospitals Over Poor Hygiene and Maintenance
Pune: The Public Health Department has issued show-cause notices to the medical superintendents of 12 government hospitals across Pune, Satara, and Solapur districts after serious lapses were found during recent surprise inspections, officials confirmed on Monday. The notices were sent between October 13 and 27, 2025.
The inspections followed a directive from Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, who on September 25, 2025, ordered checks across government healthcare facilities after mounting complaints about poor services and inconvenience faced by patients. Acting on the order, Dr Bhagwan Pawar, Deputy Director of Health Services (Pune Division), initiated inspections covering district hospitals, women’s hospitals, sub-district hospitals, and rural hospitals.
A total of 14 inspection teams were formed under Dr Pawar’s leadership, each comprising senior divisional and district officers along with technical experts in medical and administrative fields. Between September 23 and 27, the teams inspected 68 healthcare institutions across the three districts — 28 in Pune, 19 in Satara, and 21 in Solapur.
Officials reported major shortcomings in cleanliness, maintenance, and waste management. Daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedules were not followed, and cleanliness records were either missing or incomplete. Sanitation checklists were not displayed in several departments, and overall hygiene levels were found unsatisfactory.
Critical areas such as newborn care units, labour rooms, operation theatres, post-mortem rooms, and toilets were found in poor condition. Violations of biomedical waste management norms were also recorded, while many facilities lacked handwashing guidelines and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials near wash basins.
Following these findings, notices were served to the sub-district hospital in Lonavala and rural hospitals in Kale Colony and Shikrapur in Pune district. In Satara district, notices went to rural hospitals in Patan, Vaduj, and Dhaiwadi, and the sub-district hospital in Dhaiwadi. In Solapur, notices were issued to the women’s hospital, and rural hospitals in Mangalwedha, Madha, Shetphal, and Mandrup.
Dr Pawar stated, “We have warned hospital heads to immediately improve cleanliness and hygiene to avoid administrative action under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979.”
He further added that once compliance reports are received, re-inspections will be conducted by newly appointed teams. “If deficiencies persist, strict action will be initiated against the responsible officials,” Dr Pawar said.
