Pune Revives Shuttered Hospitals to Boost Healthcare Access

According to a recent report, as of November 14, 2025, Pune is taking steps to revive several civic-run healthcare facilities that have been non-functional or underutilized for years. The city currently has up to six such facilities, including Dalvi Hospital, Late Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, Malti Kachi Maternity Hospital, Late Murlidhar Pandurang Laigude Dispensary, and Dr Homi Bhabha Hospital, where two to three floors have remained closed for several years.

Additionally, the four-storey Sanjay Gandhi Hospital at Bopodi has remained completely unused despite the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) spending lakhs of rupees on its construction. Recognizing the need to address this issue, the municipal commissioner, Ram, has ordered that all such structures be made functional without delay.

Ram stated that the civic administration is exploring ways to repurpose these underutilized buildings for suitable uses, such as health services, wellness centers, yoga and fitness facilities, or even civic offices and community activities. The PMC is also focusing on improving healthcare staffing, as some facilities could not be operationalized due to a shortage of doctors. To address this, the civic body is reviewing pay scales to attract more medical professionals.

According to PMC officials, proposals have been submitted to develop multi-specialty hospitals on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital and Late Murlidhar Pandurang Laigude Dispensary. Additionally, healthcare services will be expanded at several other hospitals, with the introduction of facilities such as physiotherapy, dialysis, wellness centers, dental, and ophthalmology units.