Pune, 23rd July 2026: With the monsoon intensifying across Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has directed private hospitals not to overcharge patients undergoing dengue diagnosis and treatment.
The civic body has asked healthcare facilities to strictly follow the rates fixed by the Maharashtra government and ensure that patients are not subjected to unnecessary financial burden.
In its advisory, the PMC instructed hospitals to diagnose dengue only through government-approved tests such as NS1, ELISA, and MAC ELISA. The civic body has specifically prohibited the use of rapid test kits for dengue diagnosis, stating that only approved testing methods should be followed to ensure accurate detection.
The Maharashtra government has fixed the fee for each of the three approved dengue diagnostic tests at ₹600, and hospitals have been directed to charge only these prescribed rates.
The advisory comes as Pune experiences persistent monsoon rainfall, creating favourable conditions for the spread of dengue. Waterlogging and stagnant water in residential areas, construction sites, and public spaces provide ideal breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary carrier of the disease.
Health officials have cautioned that dengue cases may increase during the rainy season and stressed the need for early diagnosis, timely treatment, and strict compliance with government guidelines to prevent both the spread of infection and the financial exploitation of patients.