Tanisha Bhise Death Case: Maharashtra Govt Slaps ₹10 Lakh Penalty On Pune's Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital
Pune: In a decisive move, the Maharashtra state government imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Pune’s Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in connection with the death of 37-year-old Tanisha Bhise, who was allegedly denied admission due to an inability to pay an advance deposit of Rs 10 lakh. The case triggered widespread outrage, with the government ordering strong action against doctors, hospital staff and administrative officials involved, citing gross criminal negligence.
Of the total penalty, Rs 5 lakh each will be placed in fixed deposits for Bhise’s twin daughters, who were born shortly before her death. These funds will be made available to them upon turning 18, while all medical expenses for the children until then will be covered by the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, reported the Indian Express. The government also recommended centralised planning and monitoring through the CM Charity Cell to avoid such incidents in the future.
Hospital Denied Admission Over ₹10 Lakh Advance
Tanisha Bhise, the wife of a personal secretary to BJP MLA Amit Gorkhe, died on March 31 after delivering twins at another hospital. Her family alleged that Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital refused to admit her because they couldn’t pay the steep advance of Rs 10 lakh demanded by consulting gynecologist Dr Sushrut Ghaisas, who has since resigned. The tragedy drew attention to serious lapses in patient care and the failure to prioritise medical emergencies over financial demands.
In response, the government has made sweeping proposals for reforms in charitable hospitals. One of the key recommendations is to prohibit hospitals registered under the Charity Commissioner from demanding advance payments from patients. Hospitals must now reserve at least 10 per cent of their funds for treating the economically disadvantaged and submit regular reports on how these funds are utilised. Additionally, the move towards online operations has been pushed to improve transparency and accountability in these institutions.
According to the report, four different committees investigated the case: the Joint Charity Commissioner’s office, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s maternal and child death panel, Sassoon Hospital’s medical review panel and a state health department team led by Dr Radhakishan Pawar. All committees concluded that the hospital violated several norms, including the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Rules, Indian Medical Council regulations, and the Mumbai Public Trusts Act of 1950.
The government recommended stringent action against Dr Ghaisas and others involved and also instructed the Pune police commissioner to register criminal negligence cases. The Pune Municipal Corporation has also been authorised to act under the Maharashtra Hospital and Nursing Home Registration Rules, 2021, to hold the hospital accountable for the violations.
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