Hospitals in Pune File Complaints Over Fraudulent Agents Pressuring for Bill Waivers

Pune, 15th April 2025: Several hospitals in Pune are taking action against a growing issue involving fraudulent agents who are harassing hospital management and coercing them into waiving off bills after secretly collecting money from patients. In response, healthcare facilities have lodged formal complaints with the Charity Commission and the police.

“This is a persistent problem, not only for hospitals registered under the Charity Commission but also for private healthcare providers,” said Dr. H.K. Sale, chairperson of the Association of Hospitals. “It is an ongoing issue that requires immediate attention.”

On February 25, a private hospital filed a complaint with the city’s Charity Commission office, alleging that two individuals had been repeatedly harassing its management. The hospital claimed that these agents were defrauding patients by demanding money in exchange for pressuring the hospital into waiving their bills. The hospital also reported that it had filed a police FIR against the suspects and requested that the Charity Commission take action to issue a restraining order, limiting the agents’ involvement to only medical matters.

Rajni Kshirsagar, Joint Commissioner of the Charity Commission in Pune, urged families not to trust such agents. “Patients or their relatives should not believe agents who promise to enroll them in charity schemes,” she stated. “Certified social workers have been assigned to every hospital, and they provide accurate information to patients regarding their entitlements.”

According to the hospital’s complaint, the two agents targeted patients admitted under the Indigent Patient Fund (IPF), misleading their relatives by demanding money, claiming they could handle the hospital’s billing. The hospital further accused the duo of disrupting daily operations and creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for staff and patients.

While the hospital declined to make an official statement on the matter, a senior official from the Charity Commission, speaking anonymously, confirmed that such complaints were directed to the local police for investigation. “Our role is to relay these complaints to law enforcement,” the official said.

Dr. Sale emphasized the seriousness of the issue. “Our association has raised this concern multiple times. These ‘agents’ often target family members of patients in critical care or those who are unable to afford the bills,” he said. “They typically operate around hospital entrances or even ICU wards, looking for vulnerable families.”