Kalwa civic hospital faces negligence allegations as Congress worker’s wife dies after being denied admission

Thane: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial Hospital (CSMMH) in Kalwa has once again come under scrutiny following allegations of negligence after the wife of a local Congress functionary allegedly died on the way to another facility after being denied admission at the civic-run hospital.

Sangita Shetty (56), wife of Kalwa Block Congress Committee president Rajendra Shetty, was rushed to the Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Heartcare and Urocare Centre within the hospital premises Tuesday afternoon after she complained of severe chest pain. The specialised centre, operated on a public-private partnership model, handles all cardiac and urology cases referred to the hospital.

According to Thane Congress president Rahul Pingale, the staff at the facility allegedly refused to admit the patient, claiming that no beds were available despite vacancies at the facility. He further alleged that doctors failed to provide even preliminary treatment and instead asked the family to return after two hours. “As her condition deteriorated, the family decided to shift her to another hospital. However, she died on the way,” Pingale claimed.

The incident triggered outrage among Congress workers, who reached the hospital. Led by Pingale, they confronted the administration over the alleged lapse.

“We were later informed that two reserved beds were available at the facility, but there was no explanation as to why they were not allotted to the patient. This reflects serious negligence and insensitivity towards poor patients,” Pingale said in a statement, demanding strict action against those responsible.

Dr Swapnali Kadam, dean of CSMMH, said an inquiry committee has been constituted to probe the allegations. The committee is expected to submit its report next week.

The Kalwa hospital, one of the largest civic healthcare facilities in the region, caters to patients from Thane and adjoining districts. The facility had earlier faced criticism after 18 patients died in a single day at the hospital few years ago, triggering concerns over infrastructure and patient management.