Help patients’ kin get hospital bed or face action: Pune District Collector

District collector Naval Kishore Ram said he has been getting complaints that private hospitals as well as the civic-run YCM hospital were turning away patients without guiding or directing them to hospitals where beds are available.

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Naval Kishore Ram. (File)

District Collector Naval Kishore Ram on Thursday said the collectorate will be forced to take action against hospitals which do not help patients seeking treatment.

The district collector said he has been getting complaints that private hospitals as well as the civic-run YCM hospital were turning away patients without guiding or directing them to hospitals where beds are available.

“I had said earlier also that patients should first inquire with Sassoon or YCM hospitals. If these two hospitals do not have beds available, it is the duty of these hospitals to help the patient and his relatives find a hospital where a bed is available. The patient and their families should not be made to run from pillar to post. Otherwise, I will have to take action against the officials of the government and civic hospitals,” said the district collector.

On Wednesday, 51-year-old Kutubuddin Shaikh of Aundh Road had complained to the district collector that he and his family members had to visit more than 10 hospitals in both Pune city and Pimpri-Chinchwad in search of a ventilator bed.

Amir Mulani, a resident of Akurdi, said his 63-year-old father passed away while waiting for a ventilator bed in YCM Hospital last week. “The hospital kept telling me that it will provide plasma therapy to my father once they get a vacant bed. In the meantime, I also called up a few other hospitals but all of them said they cannot help as they had no ventilator beds available,” said Mulani, who has also lodged a complaint with the collectorate.

Dr Rajendra Wable, dean of YCM Hospital and Medical College, said, “We are hard pressed to look after the admitted patients as well as handle the constant flow of patients at the hospital. We do not have a system in place where we can guide the patients and their relatives to find a hospital and ventilator bed. The patients’ relatives have to themselves find another hospital…we do not have enough manpower…”.

The district collector, however, said the YCM Hospital administration was duty-bound to set up a system to guide the patients and their relatives. He said he will take up the issue with Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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