Pune: The functioning of the Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) Health Department has come under constant scrutiny. A few days ago, the corporation's health chief, Dr. Bhagwan Pawar, was suspended.

Now, several officials and employees of the Health Department are facing corruption allegations. They have been issued show-cause notices and given two days to respond.

Assistant Health Officer Dr. Manisha Naik, Clerk Manoj Panse, and Peon Baba Inamdar have all been served show-cause notices by Acting Health Chief Dr. Kalpana Balwant.

The Patient Rights Council had lodged a complaint with Dr. Balwant, which led to the issuance of these notices. The three individuals have been given two days to reply to the notices.

The complaint against the health department officials accuses them of corruption. It states that the Urban Poor Scheme is being undermined, preventing poor patients from benefiting and imposing significant financial burdens on them.

Allegedly, health department officials and employees have accepted substantial bribes from major city hospitals to approve bills under this scheme. The complaint calls for their suspension and investigation.

In response to the complaint, show-cause notices have been issued to the concerned parties, giving them two days to provide their explanations.

After receiving their responses, a report will be submitted to the Additional Commissioner, said Dr. Kalpana Balwant, Acting Health Chief, Pune Municipal Corporation.

On Thursday (July 11), a local patients’ advocacy group had demonstrated outside the Pune Municipal Corporation headquarters, calling for the suspension of top health officer accused of taking bribes to renew private hospital permissions.

Umesh Chavan, leader of Rugna Hakk Parishad, claimed to possess evidence implicating Dr. Manisha Naik in withholding approvals from private hospitals that refused to pay bribes, even after submitting all necessary documents.