Bhopal: A patient exposed a blood syndicate being operated at a government hospital in Bhind district. The incident took place when a patient admitted on Saturday urgently required blood, but there were no donors available.
Sensing the critical condition of the patient, the doctor prescribed a unit of blood without the need for exchange. However, a broker, prowling the hospital corridors, caught wind of the situation.
Exploiting the vulnerability of the patient’s family, he struck a deal with the patient’s mother and uncle, demanding a sum of Rs 3500 in exchange for arranging the blood. To seal the deal, he even took an advance payment of Rs 500 from the uncle. The entire negotiation was recorded by the patient.
Upon receiving the video evidence, hospital authorities took action asking the patient’s family to lodge a complaint with the police.
The patient, identified as Shyam Sundar, was brought to the district hospital by his mother, Sangeeta Devi. It was Shyam who managed to capture the illicit bargaining on his mobile phone. The bargaining initially started at Rs 4500 but was eventually settled at Rs 3500 after Sangeeta expressed inability to pay the initial amount. The perpetrator, known as Chhotu alias Sunil, had previously been employed as an outsourced worker at the hospital. Hospital management confirmed his dismissal due to such malpractices.
Dr Goyal, the civil surgeon, assured that the patient had received blood without any cost, and legal action would be taken against the accused.
Behind collector Sanjeev Srivastava directed the hospital management to take stringent action against the impostor posing as a hospital employee while assuring a thorough investigation into complaints related to the blood bank.