Mumbai: The State Human Rights Commission has taken up the case of an alleged ‘bogus doctor’ who was found posted in the ICU at VN Desai Hospital in 2024. The hearing is scheduled to start on July 9.The hospital found that Dr Bharat Sawant, appointed on contract through Sai Sanjeevani Services, had suspicious documents after the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) could not verify his medical certificate.The hospital has since suspended all financial payments to the hiring agency. However, Sawant had already worked there for almost two years. Dr Jairaj Acharya, the hospital’s former medical superintendent under whose tenure the doctor worked, was unavailable for comment. Dr Sawant too remained unavailable for a comment.In an internal communication, Dr Mayura Nagale, the present medical superintendent of the hospital, said that Sai Sanjeevani Services had a formal agreement dated July 29, 2022, to provide trained and qualified doctors (ICU personnel) for a period of two years. She added that, as per the terms set, it was the sole responsibility of the vendor to ensure all medical staff possessed valid registration with the medical council. The hospital had no role in allowing Dr Sawant to work without proper documentation, she said.“The doctor’s certificate was sent for MMC verification, and it was confirmed to be invalid,” Dr Nagale said.
