Kamal Dhole Patil, an MLA attending the meeting, had raised the issue of staff shortage and the necessity to fill up vacant posts. According to Walse Patil, there are at least 104 Class IV and other posts lying vacant.
Officials at Sassoon hospital said there was a dearth of people to perform basic duties like sweeping or cleaning the wards. They demanded that such cleaning functions should be outsourced from elsewhere as the hospital was shortstaffed and unable to do it.
Walse Patil told The Indian Express that orders have also been issued to pull down illegal hoardings at the B J Medical College ground near Nehru Memorial Hall, following objections raised by officials and MLAs present at the meeting.Dr Nirmala Borade, Dean, Sassoon General hospital, said that the ground, used by students of B J Medical College for sporting activities, is also let out for commercial purposes like holding exhibitions and other functions.
Of late, several hoardings have been set up for display without the permission of Sassoon officials. Walse Patil directed the officials to use police force to pull down the hoardings that are not sanctioned and even evict people who were residing unlawfully at the ground.
The meeting also scrutinised whether funds granted by the state for introducing new equipment at the hospital have been utilised. Health secretary Bhushan Gagrani, Director of Medical Education and Research W B Tayade along with MLAs Vallabh Benke, Chandrakant Chhajed, Balasaheb Shivarkar and others were present.