Pune | April 5, 2025

In the aftermath of the tragic death of Tanisha Bhise, a pregnant woman allegedly denied treatment over a deposit demand, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune has announced a major policy shift. The hospital has decided to abolish the practice of demanding emergency deposits from patients with immediate effect.

The decision comes after widespread public outrage and protests following reports that Tanisha was asked to deposit ₹10 lakh before receiving care. Forced to seek treatment elsewhere, she gave birth to twin daughters but later passed away. The case sparked state-wide criticism, especially after BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe brought the matter to light.

In an official statement, Medical Director Dr. Dhananjay Kelkar expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it an “unfortunate and distressing day in the hospital’s history.” While the hospital denied direct involvement in the death, the statement acknowledged the need to introspect on its approach toward patients and emergencies.

“Even if Deenanath Hospital was not directly responsible for the tragic incident, we are reviewing whether we acted with enough sensitivity,” the statement read.

Dr. Kelkar confirmed that the hospital administration had revisited its deposit policy following the controversy. “Going forward, we will not collect emergency deposits from any patients — whether in maternity, pediatric, or any emergency department,” he said. This change is effective immediately.

The statement also mentioned the aggressive protests that took place outside the hospital, including coin-throwing at a PR officer, vandalism at a related hospital, and blackening of signboards bearing the names of Lata and Deenanath Mangeshkar.

“Yesterday was one of the darkest days in our institution’s history,” the statement read. “What we witnessed made our heads hang in shame.”

The hospital emphasized its commitment to rebuilding public trust and assured that emergency patients will now be treated without any upfront deposit requirements.