Alleged Irregularities at KGMU: Probe launched against VC; Senior Resident doctor suspended

According to recent media reports, on the directives of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) the Uttar Pradesh government has set up a three-member committee to investigate allegations of corruption against the KGMU Vice-Chancellor. In the other case, a senior resident at the institute's respiratory and critical care department was sacked and an FIR lodged against him for referring critical patients coming to Trauma Centre to go to private hospital citing non-availability of ventilators at KGMU.

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Complaint against the VC

In his complaint against the VC, the complainant alleged that the KGMU's radiotherapy department purchased cancer drugs using Prime Minister and Chief Minister Relief funds through local purchase at higher rates even though the same drugs were available at the central drug store of the KGMU at cheaper rates.

"Last year, it came to the knowledge that the same medicines purchased by KGMU's radiotherapy the department were available in KGMU central medicine store under a different brand. With the study of documents, it is known that even after the availability of medicines in central store for a lower price, medicines were purchased at a higher price through local purchase," read the letter, adding that the alleged anomalies had been going on during the tenure of VC as the head of the radiotherapy department and continues till date; quotes The Indian Express.

After the letter was received by the PMO on December 30 last year, it was forwarded to the principal secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Department for examination and grievance redressal. The committee set up to probe the corruption charges is headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Mukesh Meshram and includes Director General Medical Education (DGME) K. K. Gupta and Directorate of Medical Education (DGME) Finance Director Kripa Shanker Pandey. The committee has been asked to submit its report in 15 working days.

Senior officials informed IANS that the committee will also look into other complaints of corruption against the KGMU VC filed over the past few months.

The registrar and finance controller of KGMU has been directed to provide all documents and information related to the allegations to the committee.

Senior Resident Doctor suspended

On February 8^th, a senior resident doctor was sacked and the matter was referred to the police. He reportedly persuaded attendants of critically ill patients in the neuro-surgery department to shift to a private hospital citing that adequate equipment was not available at the KGMU.

An ambulance driver hired by KGMU and an employee of a private hospital, who used to take patients to other hospitals, were also named in the FIR, reports TOI

The matter came to light when the attendants reacted against him. When confronted by other doctors, the accused, working as a non-post-graduate resident, said that he was from the department of anaesthesia, and tried to escape from there.

Prof Dr RAS Kushwaha, Chief Proctor of the KGMU informed TOI that the paramedical staff members had lodged a complaint with public relations officer of trauma centre a day before the arrest alleging that a senior resident, who was on morning duty in critical care medicine (CCM) the unit, was advising attendants of a critical patient to take him to a private hospital as all ventilators in the trauma centre are occupied. The staff alleged that senior resident told attendants that an ambulance was waiting outside the centre which would take the patient to a private hospital where a ventilator was available.

After the matter reached the authorities, he was caught red-handed. The resident doctor's services were immediately terminated and police were informed about his actions.

The patients at King George's Medical University is only referred to other hospitals in case beds are not available and then too they are referred only to the government hospitals and not to any private ones.

If the attendants want to take away the patient after admission, they fill a LAMA (leave against medical advice) form, stating they wish to take their patient on their own. Referring a patient to a private hospital is an offence for the doctors working here.

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