The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has sent a notice to all private hospitals instructing them not to withhold bodies of deceased individuals for non-payment of bills. The civic body has also told private hospitals to treat serious patients without considering their economic condition.
The letter by PMC reads, "Hospitals need to follow relevant sections of the Bombay Nursing Home Act, 1949 and J and L section of rule number 11 of Government Resolution dated January 14, 2021. If a patient dies at a hospital, the hospital will complete all required procedures and hand over the body to relatives. Hospitals would not withhold bodies for non-payment of bills or for any other reason.”
The decision was taken by the civic authorities following two recent incidents where the body was withheld over non-payment of bills. On May 6, Manipal Hospitals in Kharadi withheld the body of Rambhau Jadhav as his family could not pay a bill amounting to ₹1.75 lakh. Following the complaint, PMC sought an explanation from the hospital about the incident and told them to submit the report within 24 hours. In another case reported on April 25, Poona Hospital withheld the body of Mahesh Pathak for eight hours as officials at the billing section were not available to process the bill under the Urban Poor Medical Assistance Scheme.
This decision has been welcomed by residents and activists, and they highlighted that this move will benefit all.
