Pharmacist Allegedly Treated Patient as Doctor at UP Health Centre, Probe Ordered

Lucknow: A pharmacist at the Mohanlalganj Community Health Centre (CHC) in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow district has come under scrutiny after allegedly treating a patient while falsely presenting himself as a doctor.

According to a recent media report by Live Hindustan, the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday and triggered outrage among the patient's family, who alleged that medical personnel were unavailable despite repeated pleas for treatment. Following a complaint, the hospital administration initiated disciplinary proceedings against the pharmacist and recommended his transfer.

The controversy arose when Tanya Dwivedi, a resident of Mohanlalganj, was brought to the CHC around 6 a.m. after experiencing severe abdominal pain and vomiting. According to her family, they found doctors and other staff members asleep upon arrival and struggled to secure immediate medical attention.

The family alleged that after being awakened, on-duty pharmacist Vivek Sharma attended to the patient and introduced himself as a doctor. Despite family members questioning his identity after becoming suspicious, he reportedly continued to claim that he was a qualified physician and proceeded with the treatment.

Concerned by the situation, the relatives photographed the individual and forwarded the images to CHC Superintendent Dr. Divakar Bhardwaj. Upon verification, it was confirmed that the person administering treatment was in fact a pharmacist and not a doctor.

The revelation led to protests by the patient's family, who accused the healthcare facility of negligence. They further alleged that even after the matter was brought to the attention of the medical staff, the doctor on duty briefly interacted with them, instructed the pharmacist to continue treatment, and then returned to his room without directly managing the case.

Photographs and details of the incident were subsequently circulated on social media, drawing public attention to the episode.

Taking cognizance of the matter, CHC Superintendent Dr. Bhardwaj sought an explanation from pharmacist Vivek Sharma and ordered that his salary be withheld pending inquiry. A report recommending his transfer has also been forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

According to the Superintendent, complaints regarding the pharmacist's conduct had been received earlier as well, and warnings had previously been issued. However, no significant improvement was observed, prompting stricter action this time. An investigation into the incident is currently underway, reports LiveHindustan.

Meanwhile, the patient's family has demanded action not only against the pharmacist but also against the doctor allegedly present at the facility during the incident. Tanya's mother, Nitika, expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of disciplinary action against the doctor and said she intends to raise the matter directly with Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak.