1 week Ago By Alim Shaikh
1 2 3 Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has directed all private hospitals within its jurisdiction to prioritize patient care and provide treatment without delaying for advance payment or admission procedures. PCMC issued a circular in this regard on Wednesday, in the aftermath of a pregnant woman's death due to denial of admission at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune over advance payment. A senior civic official said all the private hospitals were directed to comply with the regulations of the Bombay Nursing Act and state govt guidelines issued in Jan 2021.
"They have been directed to follow the treatment protocol during the ‘Golden Hour', the first 60 minutes after an injury, accident or trauma, without considering the financial condition of patients or their relatives. The doctors must refer the patient to a nearby hospital with medical remarks, if needed," the official said, citing the circular. PCMC's medical officer Laxman Gophane said there were 650 registered private hospitals across the civic limits.
According to the govt resolution of 2021, hospitals cannot delay the discharge of patients or hold their dead bodies if the relatives fail to pay the bill for treatment or for any other reason. Besides, they must also maintain a register of patients in the inpatient department. Another PCMC official said the rule mandated hospital authorities to ensure that there was at least one MBBS doctor on duty in an ICU unit at all times, while a physician or surgeon should be available on call.
.
