Pune Government Orders Inquiry Into Abandoned Patient Case at Sassoon Hospital

Maharashtra forms three-member committee to investigate abandoned patient case at Sassoon General Hospital, Pune; probe to cover treatment, transfer, NGO role and institutional safeguards.

Pune | November 21, 2025: The Maharashtra government has launched a detailed inquiry into a disturbing case involving Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) in Pune, where a 60-year-old patient, Prakash Purohit, was allegedly abandoned after being shifted to an old-age home. The incident has sparked serious public concern over the treatment of vulnerable patients in government hospitals and the lack of systemic checks on NGOs handling medico-legal cases. According to the base details, Purohit was admitted to SGH on 23 September 2024 with a femoral neck fracture and was treated for 72 days. Hospital officials claim that despite multiple attempts, his relatives could not be traced, and therefore, after he stabilised, he was transferred on 4 December 2024 to ASK Old Age Home run by Rugna Aadhar Foundation in Uruli Devachi as per government rules for abandoned patients. However, the situation took a shocking turn when relatives recently discovered Purohit and 15 other elderly residents kept in extremely poor conditions in an open ground near Bharat Forge. The distressing visuals raised questions about the old-age home’s functioning and the hospital’s discharge protocols.

In response to public outrage, State Minister of State for Medical Education Madhuri Misal ordered a formal probe. The Directorate of Medical Education, Research & AYUSH has formed a three-member committee led by Dr Pallavi Sapale (Joint Director, DMER Mumbai), along with Dr Sanjay Surase (Medical Superintendent, J. J. Hospitals Mumbai) and Dr Gajanan Chavan (Professor, Forensic Medicine, J. J. Hospitals). The panel has been asked to visit Sassoon Hospital and the old-age home to verify documentation, patient transfer protocols, infrastructure conditions and overall care standards. The scope of inquiry includes whether SGH provided adequate treatment, followed proper medico-legal abandonment norms, and maintained clear communication records regarding efforts to contact relatives. The committee will also investigate the old-age home’s registration status, management accountability, admission records and adherence to safety guidelines.

Sassoon Hospital Superintendent Dr Yellappa Jadhav has defended the hospital, stating that Purohit received proper treatment, including diagnostics, physiotherapy and nutrition, and that his transfer followed official norms. He added that the hospital is cross-checking his medical records following reports that he may have been brought back to SGH in February. In contrast, BJP functionary Pushkar Tuljapurkar, who is related to Purohit, has alleged in a written complaint that the ASK Old Age Home’s conditions were “dilapidated” and that critically ill residents were left unattended in open spaces, violating basic human dignity. The committee’s findings could have significant implications, ranging from action against hospital officials and deregistration of the NGO to reforms in patient transfer rules and monitoring of institutions housing abandoned persons.

This case highlights a systemic gap in public healthcare management — especially concerning abandoned, elderly or medico-legal patients who have no support beyond state institutions. The inquiry is expected to push for stronger MSW (Medical Social Work) processes, mandatory audits of partner NGOs, improved tracking of discharged-abandoned patients, and possible legal amendments to ensure accountability. The government’s final report will likely influence future policies surrounding vulnerable patient care and healthcare institutional oversight. As the investigation proceeds, the central concern remains ensuring that such individuals are not left neglected after discharge and that government-supported facilities uphold the basic duty of care.

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