Andhra Medical Officer suspended for faking attendance, running private clinic during duty hours

Bapatla: A medical officer at a primary health centre in Andhra Pradesh's Bapatla district was suspended for faking biometric attendance to show him always present, though he was doing private practice at some other place.  

Dr. Bhanu Prakash, medical officer at the primary health center at Guntupalli in Vallikurava 'Mandal' (block), was suspended by state Health Minister Vidala Rajini during a visit to the PHC. Dr. Prakash, who was supposed to attend to patients at the PHC, was running a private hospital at Martur.

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The doctor had, allegedly, with the help of a fake fingerprint and collusion with some staff members, been managing the attendance. The staff members reportedly helped him to fake his biometric attendance, which always showed him as 'present' even though he remained physically absent. The villagers complained to the minister that the doctor was never available during an emergency.

A villager told the News Meter, "The PHC that is supposed to run 24x7 has no doctor to attend to patients. The staff recorded his attendance with an artificial fingerprint for the biometric attendance." 

Attendance, despite not attending the duties, was not the only complaint against the doctor. Women staff members complained that in the past, he used to consume liquor with some colleagues, misbehaved with them, and video calls them late in the night. The minister was shown videos of the medical officer indulging in irregular activities within the premises, which were shot by the local media. 

The doctor reportedly enjoyed the support of a district-level official, because of which no action has been taken against him so far. According to the staff, the doctor put his fingerprints on latex, and he made an artificial thumb for Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 with the help of a rubber stamp manufacturer. The artificial fingerprints could be used only for six months. 

Further, Village sarpanch Mandala Siva Narayana alleged that the doctor had been taking medicines from the PHC to his clinic that was established four years ago. Narayana told The New Indian Express, "Although the PHC provided 24x7 services, the staff are not available at most times. As a result, patients preferred to go to other hospitals." He also urged the government to take strict action against the medical officer and to replace the entire staff working at the PHC. 

According to YSRC village president Maddineni Ashok, various complaints against Dr. Bhanu Prakash have been coming. Ashok added that PHC did not have injections for dog and snake bites as the medical officer would take them to his private clinic. He observed that the Society of Andhra Pradesh Network (SAPNET) Chairman Bachina Krishna Chaitanya helped in raising the issue with the health minister. 

During the surprise visit, the minister was shocked to find insects and cockroaches in the operation theatre. She pulled up the PHC officials for poor maintenance of the facility and asked them where the funds were being spent.

Taking serious note of the complaints, the minister ordered his suspension. She directed the officials to take departmental action against him. the minister promised that strict action would be taken against all the illegal activities carried out by the medical officer and also assured a probe into the case. Further, the minister told the locals that they would resolve the problems related to the PHC and assured them that the department would soon appoint another medical officer. 

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