The state-government-run Sassoon General Hospital is responsible for taking care of the health condition of the president during emergencies. The hospital is managed by the BJ Medical College with the dean of the college in charge of supervising the medical team to attend to VIPs.

Acting Dean Renu Bhardwaj delegated the responsibility for the president’s health care to non-clinical Associate Professor of Pathology Dilip Kulkarni. However, as soon as this negligence came to the attention of senior state government officials, they post haste modified the order of Kulkarni, relieved him of the responsibilities of the VIP and handed the responsibility to a competent medical official.

As a normal procedure, during the president’s visit, a red alert is sounded to the district administration, police and medical officials. During the visit of any VIPs to Pune, a medical task force is constituted under the supervision of the dean of the BJ Medical College. Accordingly, P.S. Pawar, the medical superintendent of Sassoon General Hospital was to head the emergency medical team for the president. But for unknown reasons, the Public Health Department suddenly transferred Pawar a day ahead of the visit of the Presidentn and relieved him the same evening. His charge was again post-haste given to Kulkarni by Bhardwaj.

When Arab News brought this gross negligence to the attention of deputy director of public health Major Pradeep Gaikwad, a emergency situation developed and sent alarm in all quarters of the government. There after immediately alarm bells rang in the state medical department. Gaikwad immediately issued a modified order rescinding the order of the acting dean of appointing a non clinical person and delegating the power to deputy medical superintendent Pandurang Burute, a doctor with clinical background and experience.