Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 21: Even as the Maharashtra government intensifies efforts to crack down on illegal medical practices, serious lapses in enforcement have surfaced in Mumbai, where a private healthcare facility continues to function despite allegedly lacking mandatory approvals.
Trident Hospital, located in Charkop, Kandivli West, is reportedly operating without the required permissions. Documents accessed through a Right to Information (RTI) application reveal that the hospital is not registered with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, raising concerns over regulatory oversight and patient safety.
The RTI was filed in October 2024 by complainant Shravan Rajpurohit, who sought details regarding the hospital’s official status and authorised bed capacity, while also demanding its immediate closure.
In its response, the BMC’s Public Health Department confirmed that the hospital is not registered with the civic body. Under existing norms in Mumbai, hospitals are required to obtain BMC registration and comply with applicable laws before commencing operations.
The issue comes amid a broader crackdown, with the state government recently constituting a high-level committee to act against bogus doctors and unauthorised nursing homes. The panel is headed by the additional chief secretary (urban development) and includes key officials such as the health secretary, inspector general of police, and director of health services.
Despite repeated complaints, no concrete action has been taken on the ground. Rajpurohit has been following up with local ward officials and health authorities for over a year, alleging continued inaction even after highlighting multiple irregularities.
Further raising concern, discrepancies have emerged in official records. While the BMC stated that no birth certificates had been issued for children born at the hospital, documents reportedly show a birth certificate mentioning Trident Hospital as the place of occurrence.
With no resolution, the matter has now been escalated to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, and local MLA Yogesh Sagar. The complainant has sought immediate closure of the facility, a detailed probe into the hospital management, and action against civic officials for alleged negligence.
Meanwhile, a senior health official from the R South ward, Pooja Desai, acknowledged the violation, stating that the hospital is operating without mandatory registration. She added that an inspection report has been submitted and a police case has been registered at Charkop police station. However, she noted that the health department does not have the authority to seal the hospital, and the process remains underway.
Attempts to seek clarification from the hospital management remained inconclusive, with Dr Anil Yadav stating he would respond later to queries.