Punjab: Medical Officer suspended for demanding Rs 3000 from patient's kin, audio goes viral

Hoshiarpur: Health Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra recently suspended a Medical Officer on charges of dereliction of duty. The medical officer posted at Dasuya Civil Hospital in the Hoshiarpur district in an audio clip demanding money from a woman for surgery went viral.

The doctor, identified as Dr Singh, serving at a government hospital demanded Rs 3,000 from a patient's relatives for a gallbladder operation.

The person who recorded the audio is Kamalpreet Kaur, the patient's younger sister who admitted her elder sister to the hospital for an operation to remove the gallbladder stone. Her surgery was assigned to Dr Singh, who specializes in surgery.

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Before the surgery, Kamalpreet met with the doctor and he said that the hospital lacks some equipment related to the surgery and that the health department did not provide complete equipment. He said Rs 3,000 will be taken from the patient to conduct the surgery. Meanwhile, the entire conversation was recorded by Kamalpreet.

She then lodged a complaint against the doctor with the audio evidence. Health Minister took immediate action against Dr Singh after receiving the complaint and suspended him under Rule 4(1) of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970 for dereliction of duty. The suspended medical officer will report at the head office, director of health and family welfare, Chandigarh, during this period.

The Punjab government suspended the doctor on charges of dereliction of duty. The government, however, will stake strict action against the doctor once Kamalpreet's complaint is verified and proven to be true.

Dasuya Civil Hospital ASMO Kulwinder Singh told The tribune, "After receiving the complaint, Dr Singh was transferred. A three-member committee has been formed, and action will be taken based on its report."

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