Dr Ajay Tawre reappointed as Medical Superintendent of BJMC Hospital

Pune: In a turn of events, Dr Ajay Tawre, the head of the forensic department at B J Medical College (BJMC) and Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) has been reappointed as the medical superintendent by the Dean Dr Vinayak Kale. The institution has witnessed a series of leadership changes, with six appointments in the past one-and-a-half years.

The turbulence in leadership began in April 2022 when the director of medical education and research (DMER) temporarily suspended the regional organ transplant authorization committee, prompting a series of adjustments in key roles. Notably, Dr Tawre, previously holding the position, was asked to step down following allegations of malpractice during a kidney transplant procedure.  

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The intricate history of leadership changes at SGH adds complexity to this recent development. As per a recent media report, Dr Tawre, who previously served as the medical superintendent at SGH for over eight years, faced removal in April of the previous year. Subsequently, Dr Vijay Jadhav assumed the role, only to be replaced by Dr Bharati Daswani three months later in July 2022. Dr Daswani, in turn, held the position for eight months until March 2023, at which point Dr Vijay Jadhav was once again appointed as the medical superintendent of SGH. Next, Dr Yellapa Jadhav assumed the role in May 2023 but was requested to step down within three months. Subsequently, Dr Sunil Bhamre took over on August 10, 2023, serving for less than a month before being replaced by Dr Kirankumar Jadhav.

The decision to reinstate Dr Ajay Tawre as hospital superintendent comes amidst heightened controversies, notably the escape of Lalit Patil, a high-profile undertrial accused of involvement in a drug racket. The incident led to the removal of Dr Sanjeev Thakur from the post of dean. Dr Pravin Deokate, head of the orthopaedic department, faced suspension and subsequent arrest in connection with the escape, reports Hindustan Times. Dr Tawre said that the SGH is a magnet for controversy and that the image of the hospital has been badly affected. “I will work to the best of my ability to make sure we regain the image by providing quality care and treatment to the needy,” he said. 

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