Sat Apr 05 13:02:47 UTC 2025: ## Pune Hospital Faces Backlash After Pregnant Woman’s Death

**Pune, Maharashtra, April 5, 2025** – The death of a pregnant woman, Tanisha Bhise, at a Pune hospital has sparked outrage and protests, leading Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to announce the formation of a committee to investigate the incident and the drafting of new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for hospitals.

Bhise, the wife of a BJP MLC’s personal secretary, died after allegedly being refused admission at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital due to non-payment of a ₹10 lakh deposit. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from political parties and citizens’ groups.

Following a meeting with the grieving family, Chief Minister Fadnavis assured them of strict action against those found responsible. He stated that the government is working on SOPs to prevent similar occurrences and will provide a memorandum to the Charity Commissioner’s Office. Amendments passed during the recent Assembly session have already granted the Commissioner additional powers to regulate charitable hospitals. The CM also plans to link the CM’s Medical Help cell to a centralized system for greater transparency and accountability in bed allocation.

While acknowledging the Mangeshkar family’s efforts in establishing the hospital, Fadnavis described the incident as “insensitive.” He confirmed that an inquiry is underway and that an FIR will be registered if warranted by the findings.

Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, in an open letter, defended its actions, stating that the deposit policy was implemented due to rising costs of complex treatments. However, in response to the criticism, the hospital announced it will no longer require deposits from patients in the emergency department, effective immediately. The hospital’s medical director, Dr. Dhananjay Kelkar, also refuted allegations that the hospital directly caused the woman’s death.

Protests outside the hospital continued on Saturday, with activists demanding the registration of a case against the hospital’s doctors. The CM condemned the damage to a related property allegedly caused by members of the BJP’s women’s wing. Police have filed a case regarding this vandalism. The internal inquiry report from the hospital claims the allegations of denial of admission were misleading.

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