Pune Woman Dies After Alleged Delay in Emergency Treatment Over Advance Deposit at Surya Sahyadri Hospital; PMC Orders Inquiry
Kasba Peth, 9th July 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has served a show-cause notice to Surya Sahyadri Hospital in Kasba Peth after the family of a 46-year-old woman alleged that emergency treatment was delayed because they could not immediately pay the hospital’s advance deposit.
The woman, Sushila Shinde, a vegetable vendor, died on July 7 after being admitted to the hospital. She is survived by her husband and two children.
According to her daughter, Pooja Shinde, the family rushed Sushila to the hospital at around 3.30 am after she developed severe breathing difficulties. Sushila had a history of heart disease and had undergone heart valve surgery at the same hospital in 2020.
Pooja claimed that doctors informed the family that her mother required urgent admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but allegedly sought an advance payment of ₹40,000 before proceeding with further treatment.
The family said they managed to arrange ₹15,000 initially, after which they were informed that Sushila had been shifted to the ICU. They deposited another ₹15,000 by around 7.30 am.
According to the family, treatment was initiated only after the payments were made, by which time Sushila’s condition had deteriorated. She was declared dead at approximately 10.30 am.
In her statement to the Faraskhana Police Station, Pooja alleged that the delay in providing timely medical care due to financial requirements contributed to her mother’s death.
Following the complaint, the PMC’s Health Department initiated a preliminary inquiry and issued a show-cause notice to the hospital seeking its explanation.
Dr. Suryakant Devkar, Assistant Health Officer of the PMC, said the civic body had received a complaint alleging medical negligence and had sought a response from the hospital.
Meanwhile, the hospital has denied the allegations of negligence.
In an official statement, Surya Sahyadri Hospital said the patient arrived in a critical condition and was attended to immediately by its medical team.
The hospital stated that after an initial assessment, doctors promptly began the necessary investigations and treatment in accordance with established medical protocols. It also said the patient’s relatives were regularly informed about her condition and counselled throughout the course of treatment.
Reiterating its position, the hospital said it remains committed to providing timely and quality healthcare to all patients.
After Sushila’s death, her body was sent to Sassoon General Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
