Free Medicines for Sale? Pharmacist Caught Taking Bribes, Demanding Extra Bucks to 'Increase' Injury in Medico-Legal Reports, Probe On
Bribe
Lucknow: A case of corruption has surfaced in the Khadda area of Kushinagar district, where a pharmacist posted at the Community Health Centre (CHC) Turkaha was allegedly caught on camera accepting bribes and selling government-supplied medicines meant to be distributed free of cost to patients.
The controversy erupted after three videos of pharmacist Mithilesh Nigam went viral on social media, prompting swift action from health authorities. On Tuesday, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Kushinagar personally visited the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Khadda to conduct an on-site inspection and initiate an inquiry into the matter.
According to a recent media report in Dainik Bhaskar, pharmacist Mithilesh Nigam was seen demanding and accepting ₹600 from a patient in the name of preparing a Medico-Legal Report (MLR) — despite the official government fee being just ₹68. In one of the videos, Nigam can be heard saying, “It costs ₹500 per person; you can give whatever you wish.” The patient is then seen handing over cash, after which the pharmacist writes injury details on a government form — a task that should legally be performed only by a qualified doctor.
In another clip, the pharmacist is allegedly seen fixing prices for government medicines, stating, “This medicine is ₹150, and this one is ₹100.” All these medicines, however, are provided free of cost by the government, clearly labeled “Not for Sale” on their packaging. The videos are reportedly from a time when a sterilization camp was being conducted at the center, where women were to receive free vitamins, calcium, and antibiotics. Instead, patients were allegedly charged ₹100–₹150 for injections and medicines.
One of the videos even shows Mithilesh Nigam accepting ₹700 from a journalist under the pretext of preparing an MLR, and further demanding ₹100–₹200 extra to “increase” the injury details. Shockingly, he reportedly prepares the medico-legal report himself and later gets it signed by the duty doctor before handing it to the patient.
The incident has raised serious questions about corruption in government health centers, where free treatment and medicines are meant to serve the poor but have allegedly become a source of illicit profit.
Dr Paras Gupta, the in-charge Medical Officer, commented that the matter has been reported to the Chief Medical Officer. He confirmed that an inquiry has been initiated against the pharmacist and strict action will be taken if the allegations are proven.
Dainik Bhaskar reports that the CMO personally inspected both Khadda and Turkaha health centers, reviewed the evidence, and constituted a probe committee of senior officials to investigate the incident. The CMO stated, “Appropriate departmental action will be taken once the inquiry report is received. The sale of government medicines or illegal money collection from patients will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”
Also Read: Vigilance Nabs Drugs Inspector Taking Rs 40,000 Bribe for Pharmacy Licence
