Fifty-two doctors who were appointed at government hospitals in villages in Chikkaballapur district had been pulling wool over the eyes of the government by creating an impression that they were indeed serving the poor in rural areas.
Fifty-two doctors who were appointed at government hospitals in villages in Chikkaballapur district had been pulling wool over the eyes of the government by creating an impression that they were indeed serving the poor in rural areas.
In reality, these conniving doctors were carrying on their private practice in cushy urban environs.
Lokayukta sleuths discovered that the 52 doctors who were drawing additional allowance granted to them by the state government as incentive to tend to the sick and the diseased in the rural areas, were paying a part of that allowance to their government hospital administrations as bribe once a month.
The doctors were doing this to ensure that they continue their more lucrative private practices in the urban locations without having their respective government hospitals complaining against their truancy.
The Lokayukta sleuths, who launched an investigation based on a complaint filed by a social activist, have found that these truant doctors had the tacit support of the members of the administration of their respective government hospitals.
The investigations revealed that these doctors visited their rural hospitals only once a week, mainly to fill in the attendance register for the days that they had been absent in case an inspection took place.
The bribe that was paid also ensured that people from their respective hospital administrations also gave them advance information about any planned visits from officials of the health ministry who could land there for “surprise” inspections.
An official investigating the case said: “Specialist doctors among these get Rs10,000; those with postgraduate qualification are given Rs8,000, and those without postgraduation receive Rs5,000 per month under the government scheme (as incentive for them to work in rural areas). They have not only deprived necessary treatment to the poor villagers who are supposed to be under their care, but also unlawfully claimed allowances from August 1, 2011, to March 29, 2012, causing a loss of Rs29.49 lakh to the state exchequer,” he said.
The Chikkaballapur Lokayukta superintendent of police M Krishnappa has registered cases against the doctors under various sections of IPC, including Section 13(1)C of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“We have summoned the doctors involved in the scam and are recording their statements. We are also questioning junior-level staff to dig out more about the scam. We suspect that similar rackets are operating in other parts of the state,” police officials said.
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