COVID-19 Pune: Heated arguments in PMC general body meeting over inflated medical bills to patients

Pune: Opposition parties – Congress, Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Nationalist Congress Party – in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) created a ruckus during the General Body meeting on Tuesday over the issue of inflated bills handed over to Covid-19 patients by the private hospitals and medical store owners in the city.

As soon as the GB meeting started, MNS leaders Vasant More and Sainath Babar stood before the Mayor’s seat holding placards in their hands demanding action against private drug store owners. “There are complaints and evidence against all private hospitals and private medical shop owners. Patients’ relatives are being forced to buy drugs at an inflated price."

Later, Congress corporator Arvind Shinde pointed out that the administration was not taking any serious action despite raising the issue in three consecutive meetings. “Covid-19 medicines are being sold on the black market. Therefore, this issue should be discussed, he demanded. The situation in the city is not under control. Pune residents are suffering,” he said.

Opposition parties had cornered the ruling BJP corporators in PMC over the issue of not accepting that there was Covid-19 community spread in the city and why did the PMC took three months to build a jumbo hospital.

Leader of the House Dheeraj Ghate replied, “It is not us but the state government that has delayed. The municipal corporation is doing its job.” Opposition parties including NCP, Congress, Shiv Sena and MNS opposed Ghate’s statement and said that the ruling party in PMC should not blame the state government for its failure.

NCP leader Deepali Dhumal, Congress leader Aba Bagul, Shiv Sena leader Prithviraj Sutar and other corporators gathered in front of the mayor’s seat. Opposition parties demanded an account of the alleged spending of Rs 300 crores in the last four months during the Covid-19 crisis in the city. Mohol mediated and said, “We should not discuss the state government and Municipal Corporation and instead focus on Covid-19 situation in Pune city. Let's talk about the issue raised by Vasant More. This issue is being discussed in three meetings and everyone wants a healthy debate on the issue.”

Mayor Mohol later instructed the administration to conduct a pre-audit of the bills issued by private hospitals and medical shop owners. He then also ordered to investigate these cases and take action.