Thane's Global Hospital took a bribe of INR 1.5 lakhs from COVID-19 patient

Thane Municipal Corporation's Global COVID care Hospital provides free treatment to patients. However, it has come to light that the hospital admitted a patient by taking a heavy bribe of INR 1.5 lakhs.

In a letter addressed to the Thane Commissioner of Police, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) Thane district president Avinash Jadhav on Thursday, April 22, has alleged that the municipal corporation-run Global Hospital has taken a bribe for a bed in the intensive care unit.

The patient identified as Dilip Baabar is now bedridden on the 5th floor of the hospital, said Jadhav who received a complaint from Baabar's son.

Mayor Naresh Mhaske has ordered a thorough inquiry into the matter stating that this is a very serious and tragic matter. If the relatives of the patient have solid evidence in this regard, they should immediately submit it to the Municipal Corporation, he appealed.

MNS's Avinash Jadhav said that when he had personally called around 12-12:30 am on Thursday, April 22, for a COVID-19 patient, the hospital turned him away by informing him about the unavailability. However, between 3-3.30 am, a patient from Vasai was admitted after taking a bribe.

The condition of this patient was critical. Yet, the process of admitting the patient started only after the first instalment of the payment was done. The administration told Jadhav that everyone has a share in this money, including the ministers. Meanwhile, Avinash Jadhav has sent the recording to the Commissioner of Police and demanded an inquiry.

Global Hospital was the first COVID war room set up by the Thane Municipal Corporation in June 2020 during the first wave of the deadly virus.