Rajasthan: Fake organ transplant NOC racket busted; 2 suspended, 1 terminated

Jaipur: A major racket involving the sale and purchase of fake no-objection certificates (NOCs) for organ transplants has been busted in the state and a team of the Jaipur Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested three hospital employees.  

The three accused have been identified as an administrative officer of the government-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital and transplant coordinators of two leading private hospitals- EHCC Hospital and Fortis Hospital.

According to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (ACB), Ravi, the accused were caught red-handed at the hospital while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 70,000 for issuing NOC for organ transplants. 

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The state government on Monday issued an order stating it has suspended the accused from the position of assistant administrative officer of SMS Hospital after his arrest by ACB in the case.

EHCC hospital in an official statement said that the hospital has suspended Anil Joshi while Fortis Hospital said that they have terminated the services of Vinod Kumar. Both the hospitals said they have started an internal investigation and will co-operate with authorities in the investigation, reports The Indian Express.

According to a statement released by the ACB here, a complaint was received that fake NOCs for organ transplantation were being issued by an employee posted at SMS Hospital in collusion with the middlemen, without obtaining approval from the committee concerned.

After verifying the complaint, the ACB team reached SMS Hospital Sunday night and caught red-handed Singh and Anil Joshi, organ transplant coordinator at EHCC Hospital when they were taking a bribe of Rs 70,000.

Three fake NOCs were also recovered from them on the spot.

The team also arrested another accused, an organ transplant coordinator at Fortis Hospital here.

According to a PTI news agency, Chairing a high-level meeting, Shubhra Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the Medical and Health Department, instructed officials to take immediate action in the case of giving fake NOC for organ transplants by taking a bribe.

She also asked a high-level committee to investigate the matter and submit a report within 15 days.

The department had taken suo motu cognisance and requested the ACB to investigate the matter, Singh said, adding that the government is serious regarding this issue.

Action is also being taken under the Human Organ Transplant Act 1994 to suspend the organ transplant licence of EHCC Hospital with immediate effect, she said. 

Further details into the matter are awaited.

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