Dean’s transfer spurs protests by Sassoon doctors, staff

Hospital services not hampered by protests.

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In a letter to State Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh, the doctors, nurses and ward boys said it was demoralising for the staff, which was working 24/7 to save lives, if the head of the institution was transferred. Epress Photo: Prashant Nadkar

Nearly 300 doctors, nurses, ward boys have signed a letter protesting the sudden transfer of Sassoon General Hospital and B J Medical College Dean, Dr. Ajay Chandanwale.

Late on Thursday, Dr. Chandanwale was directed to take charge of his additional duty as joint director, medical education and research. He was transferred after 40 deaths due to COVID-19 in Pune district in the last fortnight took place at Sassoon Hospital.

However, hospital staff, have pointed out that “Patients visit private hospitals first for treatment and when that fails, they report to Sassoon Hospital in the last stage of illness.” In their letter to State Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh, they said it was demoralising for the staff, which was working 24/7 to save lives, if the head of the institution was transferred.

Dr. Pramod Munde, general secretary of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors, condemned the move and termed the transfer a “baseless one”. However, he added that the staff had not planned a strike and hospital services “have not been hampered”.

While Dr. S Shintre has been given charge as acting dean of the college, there was visible discontent among the faculty and resident doctors about the sudden transfer. “The load on the government hospital is tremendous. Most private hospitals and even corporation-run ones are directing their patients to Sassoon, which also has a dedicated COVID-19 facility. So even deliveries that can be conducted at a municipal nursing home is directed to Sassoon as the doctors fear that the patient has COVID-19 symptoms,” said a resident doctor with the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors.

Pune Divisional Commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar is the overall administrator while Dr. Subhash Salunkhe, who is the chairman of the state Technical Committee to prevent Communicable Diseases, has been given the charge of advising Sassoon General Hospital doctors on COVID-19. Dr. T P Lahane, director of Medical Education and Research (DMER), said he will guide the administration.

The faculty at Sassoon Hospital, who are also members of the Maharashtra State Medical Teachers Association (MSMTA), claimed that the issue has been politicised. “We have raised objections to the humiliating manner in which the dean was transferred, based on a couple of complaints, especially at a crucial time during the pandemic,” teachers with MSMTA told The Indian Express.

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Officials, however, admitted that an increasing perception had gained ground that there were few chances of survival for COVID -19 patients at Sassoon Hospital.

While addressing several meetings with the staff, Dr. Salunkhe said,“There is a need to build confidence among people that proper treatment is being provided here.”

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is likely to visit the hospital on Saturday and take stock of the situation.

Transfer not a punitive measure: District collector

Amid protests against the transfer of Dean Dr. Ajay Chandanwale, both Pune Divisional Commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar and District Collector Naval Kishore Ram held a series of meetings with staff of Sassoon Hospital and addressed their grievances.

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The transfer should not be viewed as punitive action against Chandanwale, Ram told The Indian Express. “The death rates are high and it is appropriate when the government decides to check if a change in management can help. This is not an action against doctors and we have given our full support to Sassoon Hospital and the team,” he said.

He admitted that Sassoon General Hospital was overburdened with various critically ill patients. “We have roped in private hospital doctors to try to reduce their load,” said Ram.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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