Two docs under scanner for Rs 47L loss to Barnala hospital

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Barnala, September 24

Two Barnala doctors have not only caused loss of Rs 47 lakh to the local Civil Hospital by not allowing patients avail the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana but also troubled them as they had to pay for their treatment despite being eligible for the scheme benefits.

Both also allegedly tampered with the record, threatened a senior medical officer (SMO), took money from patients and did not prepare any note of their treatment.

The doctors have been absent from their duty since July 7 while Barnala Civil Surgeon Jasvir Singh Aulakh sent his report to the director and recommended an FIR and recovery of Rs 47 lakh from them. The inquiry report has raised serious questions as it has the details of many patients, who, despite being poor, were forced to pay from their pockets as the doctors first admitted them under the yojana, but later made them pay.

FIR recommended

We found the doctors caused a loss of Rs47 lakh to our hospital. I have recommended the registration of an FIR against them and sent report to my seniors for further action. —Jasvir Singh Aulakh, Civil surgeon

Patient Jaswinderpreet got admitted at the Barnala hospital for implant removal on May 29 this year as he was registered as a beneficiary under the yojana. The doctors, on July 6, got cancelled his registration and allegedly showed him as a wound debridement case by tampering with the record. Another women patient had to spend Rs 91,225 from her pocket for knee replacement despite being eligible for the scheme benefit as a doctor told her relative that the health card had been blocked for a month.

“I am not authorised to disclose the names of the doctors, but as per the report of the SMO, we have found that they have caused a loss of Rs 47 lakh to our hospital. I have recommended the registration of an FIR against them and sent report to my seniors for further action,” Aulakh said.

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