SHRC gives BMC final chance to report on Malad hospital emergency care lapse
The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on July 3, 2026, granted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) a final opportunity to submit an official report regarding alleged emergency medical care lapses at M.W. Desai Hospital in Malad, Mumbai.
The Commission had initiated suo motu proceedings after taking note of media reports highlighting alleged lapses in the treatment of a critically ill patient at the civic-run hospital in April 2026. Health activist Chetan Kothari also approached the SHRC with a complaint regarding the same incident.
During the hearing, Dr. Jayshree Pawar, Medical Officer, and Dr. Pradnya Malgundkar, Chief Medical Officer of M.W. Desai Hospital, appeared before the Commission. However, the SHRC noted that the report requested from the Municipal Commissioner had not been received.
Dr. Malgundkar informed the Commission that she had not been authorised by the Municipal Commissioner to present the BMC's official stand. She stated that she attended the hearing only because her predecessor had requested her to do so.
Observing that the civic administration had failed to file its response, the SHRC granted one final opportunity to submit the report. The matter has been scheduled for a hearing before Court No. 1 on August 19, 2026, at 11 a.m.
The case stems from an April 2026 incident involving Prabhakar Bhimrao, a chronic alcoholic who was brought to the hospital in a semi-conscious condition. He was suspected to be suffering from a brain haemorrhage after experiencing a similar episode in the past.
Reports alleged that the duty doctor merely recorded observations on the outpatient department (OPD) papers but did not admit the patient or initiate emergency treatment.
According to Kothari's complaint, no ambulance was arranged to shift the critically ill patient to a higher medical centre. Instead, he was allegedly advised to seek treatment elsewhere and left to arrange his own transport, which violated the hospital's casualty protocol.
The SHRC will take up the matter on August 19, 2026, after receiving the BMC's report or hearing the civic body's explanation.
