Pune: Despite mounting evidence that contaminated water supply led to a surge in Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) cases, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is now considering discontinuing financial aid for affected patients.
A proposal has been submitted by the health department to Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, citing a decline in new cases. If approved, the financial assistance program will be discontinued from March 1.
Several areas in Pune, including Nandedgaon, Kirkatwadi, Nandoshi, Dhayari, DSK Vishva, and Narhe, saw a rise in GBS cases over the past year. This autoimmune disorder can cause paralysis, with treatment costs running up to ₹10 lakh per patient.
An investigation by PMC found that residents in these areas were receiving untreated water directly from reservoirs, which contained E. coli bacteria—one of the potential causes of GBS.
Following this alarming discovery, PMC implemented corrective measures, including:
Increased chlorination in well water
Enforcement of compliance at RO (Reverse Osmosis) plants
Stricter regulations at tanker filling stations
Financial Aid at Risk of Being Withdrawn
Responding to public demand, PMC had initially approved financial assistance for GBS patients:
₹2 lakh for those eligible under the Urban Poor Scheme
₹1 lakh for other affected patients
So far, ₹49 lakh has been distributed to 35 patients, including:
₹24 lakh to 12 patients under the Urban Poor Scheme
₹25 lakh to 25 patients outside the scheme
However, as the number of new GBS cases has reportedly declined, the health department has recommended discontinuing financial aid. Assistant Health Chief Dr. Sanjeev Wavre confirmed that the proposal is now under review, and if approved, the program will end starting March 1.
Residents Remain Vigilant Amid Water Concerns
While GBS cases have decreased, residents in affected areas remain cautious, taking preventive measures such as:
Boiling water daily
Avoiding outside food and beverages
Ensuring proper water filtration at home
