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According to the news reports, out of eight approved super-speciality posts at SGH and B J Medical College (BJMC), only one is currently filled. Among 24 assistant professor posts across various specialities, 17 remain vacant. Notably, the hospital has no super-speciality doctors in neurology, nephrology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, critical care medicine, or infectious diseases. Surgical gastroenterology and other surgical specialities are also unavailable, leaving patients with complex conditions without essential treatment.
A recent example underscores the problem, a 53-year-old man from Satara, a person with disabilities, was referred to SGH on November 14 for assessment by a neurophysician due to a history of head injury and seizures. Despite travelling a long distance, the patient was turned away because no neurologist was available. Speaking to Hindustan Times, a family member said, “It was shocking to see that a major tertiary care hospital has no neuro doctor. We travelled so far only to return without help.” The shortage of specialists has also hampered administrative responsibilities. Last month, SGH declined to investigate a case of suspected medical negligence involving a fatal liver transplant, citing the absence of a gastroenterologist and liver transplant surgeon — both crucial for evaluating the case. The probe could not proceed, raising concerns about the hospital’s capacity to handle high-level medical negligence cases.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the investigation into the liver transplant deaths at Sahyadri Hospital, Pune, where both the donor and the recipient passed away due to alleged post-transplant complications, remains uncertain after Sassoon General Hospital (SGH), which was assigned to probe the matter, refused to move forward with the investigation, citing a shortage of specialist doctors.
Also Read:Pune liver transplant deaths: Probe halts after Sassoon Hospital cites specialists shortage
In January 2025, SGH and BJMC submitted a proposal to the state government to establish a 250-bed super speciality hospital and post-graduate institute in Pune. Senior doctors emphasized that the new facility is crucial for improving patient care, strengthening postgraduate training, and attracting highly qualified specialists to government service. However, the proposal remains pending, with no progress reported.
Dr Yallapa Jadhav, medical superintendent, SGH, said, “In case of unavailability of speciality doctors, the patients are referred to J J Hospital, Mumbai. The doctors at the hospital try to provide the medical attention they are capable of, but in complex cases, the patients need specialised doctors. Once the posts are filled, we will be able to provide better healthcare and advanced treatment to the public,” reports Hindustan Times.
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