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Doctors' unholy links with private labs come to light Tuesday, June 26, 2001

The Times of India News Service
AHMEDABAD, June 25: Even as a government-appointed committee is enquiring into the Eurokinase heart injection racket busted recently, more skeletons have started tumbling out of Gandhinagar Civil Hospital's closet.

In their pursuit to earn hefty commissions from chemists, it seems doctors at the hospital were prescribing several exorbitantly-priced drugs and even sub-standard ones.

"Ofloxin drug manufactured by a standard company is available for Rs 4-6, but the doctors have been found prescribing the same drug combination costing between Rs 20-30," reveals a member of the advisory committee of the hospital board.

Less than a month ago, four doctors were exposed for their involvement in indiscriminately prescribing Eurokinase heart injections costing a whopping Rs 12,000 to earn fat commissions worth Rs 5,000-6,000 per injection. Similar formulations are available in the market within Rs 2,000-3,000 and the same have been now procured by the hospital at an affordable Rs 850!

The expose has resulted in an avalanche of complaints against the irregularities in the hospital. Very often, patients are referred to private pathology laboratories for tests despite the hospital boasting of a 24-hour diagnostic laboratory.

"Poor patients are deliberately referred to private labs where they are forced to shell out anything between Rs 250-400. We have received a number of complaints from patients who have alleged that hefty commissions are being paid to doctors for referring patients to a particular private laboratory," informs advisory committee member Rajendra Parikh.

The committee members have also taken exception to doctors making it a standard procedure of referring patients to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, citing shortage staff shortage or claiming the case is very complicated.

Remarks Parikh, "It is shameful that 35 years after Gandhinagar came into existence, the patients are still sent to Ahmedabad hospitals. Why is it that the doctors at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital cannot provide adequate medical services to patients?

The hospital is reportedly yet to fill vacancies of a dietician, linen keeper and even a barber. Curiously, the number of beds at the hospital has remained stagnant at 210 despite a steady increase in the population of the state Capital.

The hospital, in the absence of trained hands, has not been able to make use of sophisticated equipment provided under the controversial ORET project. These are gathering dust.

It is also alleged that the paramedical staff, in connivance with the doctors, are providing vaccination to people at their doorstep to earn a quick buck.

"It is surprising how the authorities are putting up with gross mismanagement of the hospital by the doctors," fumes an advisory board member who points out that the irregularities have been brought to the notice of those concerned umpteen number of times, but no action has been initiated to set things right.

News Source : Times Of India News Service [ Lightning News ]

 

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