Mumbai: A serious lapse has emerged involving Dr. Bharat Chandrakant Sawant, who was found working in the ICU of BMC’s VN Desai Hospital without registration from the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) a mandatory requirement for medical practice in the state. Despite being barred from VN Desai Hospital once the issue came to light, Dr. Sawant allegedly continued to work at other civic-run hospitals and draw salary.
Doctor Secured Multiple BMC Roles
According to sources, he served on contract at two other BMC hospitals without valid MMC registration, earning lakhs in salary raising major concerns about the civic body’s vetting process for contractual medical appointments.
Earned Over ₹9 Lakh Treating Patients in ICU and Trauma Wards
On August 5, The Free Press Journal reported that contractor Sai Sanjivani Polyclinic had deployed Dr. Sawant to treat critical patients in VN Desai Hospital’s ICU despite his lack of MMC certification.
Records show that during the COVID-19 period (2021–2022), Dr. Sawant worked as a Resident Doctor at R-North ward hospital, where he earned over Rs 7 lakh. More recently, between April and June 2025, he served as a House Officer at Jogeshwari Trauma Hospital and received an additional Rs 2 lakh from BMC.
Shockingly, despite MMC registration and valid degree certificates being mandatory for all medical appointments under BMC subject to strict verification Dr. Sawant was able to secure multiple roles. The revelation has triggered a wave of scrutiny and criticism.
Health Activist Express Alarm Over Situation
A health activist expressed alarm: “Dr. Sawant handled critical patients. Citizens trust municipal hospitals to be staffed with qualified professionals. It's deeply disturbing that someone without registration was allowed to treat patients.”
The activist further questioned the BMC’s inaction: “Since the BMC has acknowledged that the doctor submitted a forged certificate, why hasn't an FIR been filed? Even the legal department was consulted did they not recommend criminal proceedings?”
Following the exposé, the BMC suspended all pending payments to Sai Sanjivani Polyclinic and issued two show-cause notices, with a third reportedly underway.
The civic body clarified that the agency had been contracted to supply only MMC-registered and trained medical personnel. It was only in February 2025 long after Dr. Sawant began working that his documents were sent for verification. The MMC later confirmed that no such registration existed, and the submitted certificate was invalid.
VN Desai Hospital Responds
In response, VN Desai Hospital stopped all financial disbursements to the agency back in November 2024 and sought legal advice.
The health activist also criticised the delay in document checks, stating: “Verification should be done before appointment, not after. This blind reliance on contractors could have resulted in serious consequences if any patient had suffered complications.”
