Mumbai News: Unregistered Doctor Worked In ICU At BMC-Run V N Desai Hospital

Mumbai: A contract senior doctor worked for nearly two years in the ICU ward of V N Desai Hospital, Santacruz, without being registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). The matter came to light in February 2025, and after verification with the MMC, it was confirmed that the doctor was not registered. Although the hospital barred him from practising, no concrete action has been taken against him so far.

Dr Sawant Bharat Chandrakant was working as a registrar in the ICU ward on a contractual basis. He was appointed through a contractor engaged by the BMC in October 2022, which indicates he may have started working sometime thereafter.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a hospital staffer said Dr Sawant was responsible for supervising the ICU ward. “Dr Sawant claimed that he was MD and working in the ICU as registrar. He handled several critical patients,” the staffer said.

Suspicion Arose Over Dubious Registration Letter

The issue came to light when a hospital employee found his certificate suspicious. Instead of a valid registration copy, he had submitted a letter from the MMC claiming that he was permitted to practise. “This raised doubts, and the employee flagged the issue,” the staffer added.

Subsequently, the hospital sought verification from the MMC in February 2025. In April, the council responded, confirming that Dr Sawant was not registered and that the letter he had submitted could not be verified as authentic.

No Action Taken Despite Hospital Ban

A health activist pointed out that, as a registrar, Dr Sawant was responsible for overseeing ventilator use, critical care management, drug administration, and issuing directives to the ICU team. “A registrar is a critical position that requires proper qualifications and registration. His documents were not verified properly at the time of appointment,” the activist said.

Health Activist Calls It A Larger Systemic Failure

“This is a serious matter and part of a larger problem,” the activist added. “It is ironic that the BMC, which is responsible for cracking down on fake and bogus doctors, is itself employing an unregistered doctor in one of its hospitals.”

When The Free Press Journal contacted Dr Jairaj Acharya, Medical Superintendent of V N Desai Hospital, Santa Cruz regarding action taken against Dr Sawant, he disconnected the call. Dr Sawant also did not respond to calls or messages.