WB: Gynaecologist arrested for allegedly assaulting members of inspection team

The North Dinajpur district administration received complaints that some of the private nursing homes in Raniganj have been refusing treatment to patients under the state-run free health insurance scheme. The complainants claimed that despite possessing the Swasthya Sathi cards, they were denied free treatment.

Acting on the complaints, District magistrate Arvind Kumar Mina directed Rafikul Islam, the coordinator of the scheme in the district took take note of the complaints and investigate the matter. On Tuesday evening, Islam and his team accordingly started visiting the private hospitals for inspection. During the visit to a healthcare facility in the Debinagar area, some of the patients informed the team that the hospital was not providing treatment on the basis of the insurance cards, reports The Telegraph.

When the team tried to confront the authorities, the accused doctor allegedly turned violent and assaulted the team members. A source in the district health department told the daily, "The team went to speak to the hospital authorities. The doctor, along with some of his associates, intercepted the team, abused the officials and assaulted some of them."

Islam narrated the whole incident to the DM and lodged a police complaint.

Accordingly, " the doctor has been booked under sections 186 (voluntarily obstructing public servant in discharging public duties), 341/342 (wrongful restraint) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) of the IPC," stated a police officer.

The court on Wednesday remanded the doctor in five days of police custody.