Rs45 lakh dues force Noble Hospital to deny treatment to PMPML staff

Rajendra Shinde (name changed), a driver with Hadapsar depot of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), had visited Noble Hospital a couple of days ago with his wife Rohini who had to undergo an abdominal cyst operation. However, the hospital authorities denied treatment.

Popat Khandagale, another PMPML driver who has been advised minor operation by doctors for his backache, has too been denied treatment by the hospital.

Subhash Shilmilkar, a PMPML conductor, was declined admission by the hospital authorities for his father’s angioplasty operation.

Reason: PMPML owes Noble Hospital outstanding bills of Rs45 lakh. A couple of days ago Noble Hospital in Hadapsar had issued a letter to PMPML to pay the dues by September-end or they will be forced to stop the medical services extended to them.

Although, the hospital said that they have not stopped treatment, majority of transport utility staff who are on contract deny their claim. “PMPML has failed to pay us in time despite being providing with medical services since 2008. With dues of Rs45 lakh, it has now become difficult for us to run the hospital,” said hospital managing director Dileep Mane.

PMPML board member Prashant Jagtap said, “We will solve this problem within a week. In a PMPML board meeting, we decided to increase the mediclaim amount from Rs85 to Rs150. It will help us to pay back our medical bills.”