In the wake of the dramatic escape of the drug trafficking mastermind, Lalit Patil, from Sassoon Hospital, Pune, a significant transformation has taken place within the hospital’s inmate patient ward. Swift and stringent precautions have been enacted, leading to the prompt relocation of a majority of prisoner patients back to Yerwada Central Prison. Notably, this month has witnessed a remarkable decline in hospital admissions, with only two inmates briefly seeking medical treatment before returning to their jail cells.
Lalit Patil’s audacious escape unfolded while 16 inmates were receiving treatment at Sassoon Hospital, causing considerable turmoil. In response, the Prisoner Patient Committee convened an urgent meeting to reevaluate the status of all jail ward patients. As a result, 12 prisoners, including former MLA Anil Bhosle, were swiftly repatriated to jail. At present, only one patient remains in the prisoner patient room, ward number 16, at Sassoon Hospital.
Traditionally, Sassoon Hospital accommodates an average of 15 Yerawada Jail inmates for medical treatment each month. However, the past month witnessed a notable decline in admissions, with only two prisoners requiring medical attention. One of them was admitted on October 11 for a mental examination and was discharged on October 25. Additionally, a female prisoner sought admission on October 21 for an abortion-related issue and was subsequently returned to jail on October 26. This shift underscores the reduced number of prisoners sent from Yerawada Jail to Sassoon Hospital, prompting a decrease in the rate of prisoner admissions within the hospital.
