Oncologist diverting patients to private hospital transferred to Kancheepuram cancer hospital
Madurai: The dean of Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), Dr A Rathinavel has transferred the radiation oncologist accused of sending cancer patients from the government hospitals to a private hospital owned by her father, to Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Research Institute at Kancheepuram on Saturday.
The Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported about the malpractice by the doctor, wherein, the radiation oncologist was transferred out of her department for diverting over 500 cancer patients to a private hospital which was owned by her relative. The diversion led to a loss of around Rs 2.18 crore to the state government.
The Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr R Narayana Babu issued an order against the doctor after the charges against her were proven during an inquiry.
The inquiry was initiated by the Project Director of Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project (TNHSP) Dr S Uma two weeks back, based on a complaint filed by the manager of United India Insurance Company.
The complainant alleged that, "cancer patients who seek treatment at GRH were methodically pursued and shifted to the private hospital -- Mohan's Medicity Hospital -- by the GRH doctors, thus resulting in a revenue loss of `61,29,760 to TNHSP and `1,57,62,242 to GRH from January 2019 to January 2021'."
The doctor used to work as a Head (in-charge) of the Department of Radiation Oncology at GRH during the two year period and the owner of the private hospital is her father, who is a surgical oncologist and used to serve as the Head of Department at GRH.
A two day inquiry was performed at the GRH on December 7 and December 8 by a four member committee consisting of DRO of Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) V Mohana Chandran, State Coordinator of Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI) Dr S Maruthu Thurai, Joint Director of CMCHIS Dr S Ravi Babu and radiation oncologist at Thoothukudi Medical College and Hospital Dr Lalitha.
Two GRH workers, a 26 year old data entry operator from K Pudur and a 42 year old lab technician from Thirunagar were also found to be involved in the nexus of transferring patients to the private hospital along with the oncologist, both the workers were subsequently removed from their work by Dean Dr Rathinavel on December 9 on the basis of the oral recommendations of the Inquiry committee.
Eventually, the doctor was relieved from the department of Radiation Oncology and deputed to the Institute of Community Medicine at Madurai Medical College by the dean as a preliminary action within his official capacity.
The government order of December 24 stated, "Submitting its report, the Committee mentioned that there was evidence for diversion of patients from GRH to Mohan's Medicity Hospital and Dr Mahalakshmi has acted in ways which were detrimental to the growth of the department of radiation oncology at the government institution."
It further read, "Examining the Committee's recommendations on departmental disciplinary proceedings, the state government directs the transfer of Associate Professor Dr Mahalakshmi Prasad to Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Research Institute at Kancheepuram in the existing vacancy. The DME is ordered to take action to recover the amount of revenue loss, from persons responsible for the lapse. "
On the basis of the order, the DME issued a direction on December 24 seeking the GRH dean to take an action after which the accused doctor was transferred on Saturday, reports The New Indian Express.
