Latest news with #BJGovernmentMedicalCollege
India Today
11-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
3 doctors suspended, department head transferred for ragging at Pune hospital
A ragging incident involving a junior resident doctor in the orthopaedics department at Pune's Sassoon General Hospital and BJ Government Medical College prompted strict disciplinary action by the administration, leading to the suspension of three junior doctors and the transfer of the department a complaint filed with the dean of the college, an internal enquiry was initiated. The complaint was also escalated to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Medical Education Ministry, leading to immediate Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif said that three junior resident doctors involved in the incident were suspended for six months and fined Rs 1 lakh each. Additionally, the head of the orthopaedics department was transferred from the institution as part of the corrective measures. 'In response to the complaint, the dean took prompt action. Based on the findings, three junior resident doctors have been suspended for six months and penalised Rs 1 lakh each. Furthermore, the head of the Orthopaedics Department has been transferred from the institution,' Mushrif also emphasised that the dean was directed to implement urgent preventive measures to ensure such incidents of ragging do not recur on campus.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra#Pune
Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Sassoon Hospital to undergo big upgrades; Madhuri Misal reviews progress
In a bid to modernise one of Maharashtra's oldest government hospitals, Minister of State for Medical Education Madhuri Misal conducted a detailed review meeting at Sassoon General Hospital on Friday. The session focused on addressing infrastructure gaps, patient care challenges and long-pending staff vacancies. During the meeting, the hospital administration provided an overview of Sassoon's legacy and facilities, while key developments and future plans were discussed, including substantial investments in new medical equipment and patient services. Among the core developments, the hospital is set to acquire advanced medical machines: a new CT scan (Rs 7.5 crore), MRI (Rs 27 crore), and a cath lab (Rs 17 crore). Plans are also underway to increase the bed capacity by 550, offering relief to overcrowded wards. The outpatient department (OPD) is currently undergoing renovation under the 'OPD under one roof' initiative. However, temporary relocation of departments has created difficulties for patients. 'To address this, we will start three electric vehicles for internal patient transport within 10 to 15 days,' said Dr Eknath Pawar, dean of B J Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital. Efforts are being made to speed up police reports required for post-mortem cases. A dedicated police team is working with the hospital, particularly due to the shortage of post-mortem centres in the city. Additional CCTV cameras with centralized monitoring are also being installed to strengthen hospital security. The upcoming Rs 860 crore Cancer Centre remains a key focus, encompassing infrastructure, equipment, and patient amenities. However, radiation therapy services are yet to be included due to structural constraints. 'Since radiation units require underground installation, it is a bit challenging,' Pawar noted. The hospital is also grappling with staff shortages, 783 vacancies at Sassoon and 314 at BJ Government Medical College. 'This has led to a heavy workload on the current staff,' Pawar said. 'To expedite hiring, we have appointed an external agency to conduct exams and provide a direct merit list for recruitment.' The review concluded with directives to speed up ongoing projects and ensure patient convenience, reaffirming the government's commitment to upgrading Sassoon as a modern and inclusive healthcare hub.
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Sassoon Hospital dean's year-long push to solve staff crunch, improve campus cleanliness
Dr Eknath Pawar, Dean of B J Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, who completes a year in the post on June 19, said that despite the vacancies, a slew of measures are in place to ensure patient care and deliver quality services at Maharashtra's largest government-run hospital. According to a Right to Information (RTI) application by The Indian Express, the hospital in Pune has been reeling under a severe manpower shortage, with half of the 843 sanctioned Class IV posts lying vacant in addition to the shortage of non-technical staff and medical professionals. There are 118 vacant posts for doctors, while the B J Government Medical College, attached to the Sassoon General Hospital, has 18 posts of Associate Professors and 27 Assistant Professor posts lying vacant. 'The staff shortage is being addressed. During my tenure of a year, several efforts have been taken, and we have filled up a fair share of vacancies. As part of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) recruitment process, interviews are being scheduled, and we have urged them to fast-track the process,' Dr Pawar told The Indian Express on Tuesday. The RTI data shows that 918 of the 1,108 permanent posts of nurses have been filled. However, 416 posts of Class IV employees remain vacant. 'At the local level, through the District Collector's office, some technical staff can be hired, and even cleanliness services are being outsourced,' Dr Pawar said, adding that an advertisement will be issued to fill Class IV posts soon. Dr Pawar agreed that some gaps are likely to occur owing to the huge size of the institution. However, he said, the team actively conducts surprise inspections and takes random photographs to ensure cleanliness. 'While it is a time-consuming process, since I joined, I have held several meetings and, together with the team, carried out routine inspections across all areas of the hospital. We have also trained our staff to respond promptly and effectively to complaints,' Dr Pawar said. During his period, several boards were displayed to direct the patients to the respective departments and OPDs for specialised and routine treatment. Benches have been provided so that patients can be comfortable at the OPD, he added. Security agencies have also been instructed to inform the staff to address patients politely, he mentioned. The hospital authorities have initiated efforts to ensure an adequate stock of medicines. 'The District Planning Development Committee (DPDC) has approved Rs 6 crore towards ensuring an adequate availability of medicines. No patient will be told to purchase medicines from outside,' Dr Pawar said. Patients of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) who required expensive medicines were treated free of cost, he added. Focus on transparency As part of a scheme, children of deceased employees (Class IV) can be recruited at the hospital. A committee that looks into such matters has noted that there are karyakartas who recommend appointments for the children who fall into the category. 'However, in some cases, these karyakartas mislead the candidates by falsely claiming that the process would take time, using this as an opportunity to demand money. We have put a stop to this practice and have already issued over 30 appointment orders for the sons of deceased employees,' Dr Pawar said. 'At times, I used to receive numerous calls from karyakartas wanting to discuss various issues. I began asking whether the matter was urgent or if it could be addressed at a more appropriate time. As a result, the late-night calls — sometimes continuing until 1 am — have now stopped. I have made it clear that non-essential calls will not be entertained after 9 pm,' he said. Beautification measures, heritage building restoration The campus beautification work has been taken up on a large scale with parts of the main building being painted in a striking white and gold colour scheme. As per a notification, a board also displays the official change in the name from B J Medical College to B J Government Medical College. According to Dr Pawar, 50 per cent of the renovation work at the OPD has been completed. The David Sassoon and Jacob Sassoon buildings on the campus are being restored to bring back their original glory, and according to Dr Pawar, the first phase of restoration has been completed. 'We are now planning a fully air-conditioned Central Library on the ground floor, Medical Research Unit, and Medical Education Unit, mainly for the training of faculty and resident doctors,' Dr Pawar said. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
RTI data shows staffing gaps: 50 per cent of Class IV posts vacant, over 100 doctor positions unfilled at Sassoon Hospital
A Right to Information (RTI) query filed by The Indian Express shows that half of the 843 sanctioned Class IV posts at Sassoon General Hospital, Pune – Maharashtra's largest government-run tertiary care facility – have been vacant for several years. In addition to the non-technical staff crunch, the hospital has also had to deal with a shortfall in medical professionals. There are 118 vacant posts for doctors, as per RTI data. Patient load The 1,296-bed facility has an increasing patient load, and approximately 2,000 patients visit the outpatient departments daily for medical treatment. Additional workload during the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated an increase in bed capacity. However, there has been a delay in filling up corresponding staff vacancies. Presently, there is a requirement for 190 nurses. As per RTI data, there are 1,108 permanent posts of nurses, of which 918 have been filled. There are 834 Class IV posts, of which 416 are lying vacant. Of the 301 permanent sanctioned posts of doctors, a total of 183 have been filled, while 118 are lying vacant. Data shows that of the 18 permanent posts of X-ray technicians, a total of five are vacant, while there is a need for four more healthcare professionals to operate the computed tomography (CT) scanners. This is a long-pending issue, and over the years, the government hospital has faced numerous challenges to ensure quality patient care, improve infrastructure, and maintain effective administration. Long queues are a routine sight at the X-ray department, where most patients are subjected to an entire day's waiting period to get an ultrasound scan. Several concerns have been flagged over the years about the hospital's sanitation and cleanliness, and the condition of wards and outpatient departments has attracted significant criticism. As per RTI data at the B J Government Medical College, a total of 18 posts of associate professors and 27 assistant professor posts are yet to be filled. Too little While efforts are being taken to address the requirements of some of the short-staffed departments, as per the data, the post of professor at the biochemistry and orthopaedic department is vacant. At the anatomy department, three posts of assistant professors are vacant, while one associate professor post is yet to be filled. The physiology department requires four more assistant professors. Presently, three posts have been filled. As many as 10 posts of assistant professors are lying vacant at the medicine department, while five assistant professor posts and two associate professor posts are yet to be filled at the surgery department. 'Fewer faculty often can impact the focus on research activities and publications that are important for the institution's reputation,' an expert said. When contacted, Dr Eknath Pawar, Dean, B J Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, told The Indian Express that the staff shortage is being addressed. 'As part of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) recruitment process, interviews are being scheduled, and we have urged them to fast-track the process. At the local level, through the district collector's office, recruitments can also be done, and we are looking into that. Cleanliness services are being outsourced,' Dr Pawar said. 'An advertisement will be issued and we hope to fill Class IV posts soon,' he added. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
