Pune: Medicine Shortage at Aundh Kuti Hospital Alarms Patients and Activists

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-run Aundh Kuti Hospital, located at Parihar Chowk, is facing a critical shortage of basic medicines like blood pressure and diabetes tablets. This shortage has alarmed patients and activists, who are voicing their concerns about the deteriorating quality of medical facilities.

The civic body operates a total of 57 hospitals and 19 maternity hospitals. Despite this, Pune’s public healthcare system is on the verge of collapse due to poor administration, lack of resources, and rising public apathy. Kamala Nehru Hospital serves as the city’s only major civic hospital, while Naidu Hospital focuses on infectious diseases. However, the rest of the hospitals are struggling to serve the public effectively.

Social activist Deepak Jadav emphasized the need for local committees to monitor and improve the functioning of municipal hospitals. “To ensure that the municipal hospitals in our respective areas function better, it is necessary to form a committee of people at the local level to monitor and implement a communication process. Through this committee, the shortcomings in those hospitals should be brought to the attention of the administration,” said Jadav.

Despite the availability of free medicines and discounted tests, the flow of patients at these hospitals is decreasing. “OPD is open in 57 municipal hospitals from 9am to 5pm. Free medicines are available here after paying a fee of just Rs 10, whereas tests are done at a discounted rate. Still, the flow of patients coming here for tests is very low, and it is decreasing day by day,” added Jadav.

The treatment experience at these hospitals is often poor, with patients facing humiliation and inadequate facilities. “Most of these civic hospitals do not treat patients well. There are many complaints that patients coming to the hospital are being humiliated by doctors and staff. In some hospitals, they are asked to take off their slippers and come in. There are no sitting arrangements for patients in the waiting areas. Even the sick patients have to stand, and doctors don't have the very basic equipment, like a stethoscope,” said Jadav.

Raju Yadav, a daily wage worker, shared his struggles. “BP and diabetes tablets are not available most of the time, and then we have to go to another hospital, mostly to Sassoon General Hospital and wait in a long queue all day to get medicines. Most of us are working as contractual laborers, so we can't afford to stand in a long queue for the entire day.”

Jadav also pointed out the decline in the quality of municipal hospitals over the past two decades. “Just two decades ago, municipal hospitals were relatively better. Instead of getting better with time, they have gotten worse as civic buildings and services have been gradually handed over to private institutions under the guise of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, often in connection with political interests.”

In response, a senior PMC official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated, “There is no shortage of medicines because we haven't received any requirement, but we will check with the respective hospital. We are providing the medical facilities free of cost, and we haven't received complaints regarding the non-availability of seats at the hospitals.”