Nagpur: In recent times, a series of scams have surfaced within the government hospitals in Nagpur, raising concerns about the integrity of the healthcare system. These scams have undermined the trust of patients and highlighted the need for stringent measures to prevent such fraudulent activities. The most recent scandal involves an injection procurement scam at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Nagpur, resulting in the arrest of two individuals by the Sonegaon police.
A few months ago, the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (Mayo) was embroiled in an attendance scam, which was exposed by the media. Additionally, just last week, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) came under scrutiny for a payment receipt scam. These incidents have raised concerns about the overall transparency and accountability within the government healthcare institutions.
The injection procurement scam at AIIMS came to light when three patients visited the hospital for MRI scans. They were instructed to purchase one injection each and subsequently brought the injections to the hospital. Surprisingly, only one injection was administered to the three patients, while the remaining two were returned to the shop for resale. It was discovered that the injections were repurchased through a broker.
In response to this alarming incident, the AIIMS administration took immediate action by dismissing two contract employees involved in the scam. They also lodged a complaint with the Sonegaon police, leading to the subsequent arrest of the two individuals. Media reports indicate that the same person visited AIIMS’ Amrit Pharmacy on multiple occasions, raising suspicion and prompting security guards to keep him under surveillance. Subsequent investigations revealed that he possessed more than three injections.
According to reliable sources, the contrast injections required for the MRI scans were obtained from three patients. However, after administering one injection to each patient, the remaining two were returned to the pharmacy through the assistance of a broker. Disturbingly, it was discovered that an AIIMS employee had been in contact with the scam’s orchestrator. The AIIMS administration promptly reported this revelation to the Sonegaon police.
The arrests of both contract workers at AIIMS, mark a significant step towards ensuring accountability and preventing further fraudulent activities. However, these incidents underscore the need for comprehensive reforms, including enhanced oversight, stricter protocols, and robust internal controls within government hospitals to protect patients’ interests.
