'We are victims of fraud by him': MP Mission Hospital accuses ‘Dr N John Camm’ of theft, says surgeon stole costly medical equipment

DAMOH: Mission Hospital in Damoh, at the center of a controversy over cardiac surgeries conducted by Dr. Narendra John Camm, claims that they themselves became victims of "fraud" by him. The hospital alleges that Dr. Camm made away with costly medical equipment before leaving, and a written complaint was lodged with the Kotwali Police in Damoh, accusing him of theft—well before the controversy over the surgeries erupted.Hospital authorities also claim that Dr. Camm was recruited through a Bhopal-based recruitment agency, Integrated Workforce Unique Private Solutions Ltd. (IWUS), and that it was the agency’s responsibility to verify his credentials. However, IWUS asserts that they merely forwarded Dr. Camm’s resume to the hospital and were not involved in the recruitment process, claiming no payment was made for his placement.According to a complaint made by Pushpa Khare, the hospital’s HR manager, to Kotwali Police Station:“At Mission Hospital, Damoh (M.P.), Integrated Workforce Unique Solution Pvt. Ltd. (IWUS), Plot No. 241-242, Dynamic Centre, M.P. Nagar, Zone-1, Bhopal 462011 (M.P.), appointed Dr. N. John Camm, a D.M. (Cardiology) and 'Head of Department (HOD) and Senior Consultant in Cardiology Department,' effective January 01, 2025.”“Dr. N. John Camm stayed at Hotel Utsav Vilas, Damoh. The hospital paid the related bills, which were supposed to be covered by Dr. Camm himself. The hospital management was not informed of his absence from service,” the complaint continues.“Dr. Camm provided services until February 12, 2025, after which he became absent without prior notice. Despite multiple attempts to contact him via phone, he did not respond or report back for duty. He continued to make excuses for his absence. We also contacted the agency that appointed him, but they made no efforts to ensure his return.”“During his time at the hospital, Dr. Camm kept medical equipment (including a portable echo tube probe), valued at approximately Rs 6–7 lakh, in his OPD room. After more than a month of absence, other doctors requested access to the equipment. Upon opening the drawer where Dr. Camm had stored it, the equipment was found missing.”“Despite several attempts to contact him to return the equipment, Dr. Camm remained unresponsive. He has neither returned the equipment nor provided any explanation. It is alleged that he took the portable cardiac machine while leaving, causing a financial loss to the hospital.”The hospital also stated it had informed IWUS of the entire matter, both telephonically and in writing. As per the complaint, Mission Hospital has requested police to register a theft case against Dr. Camm.“Therefore, it is a humble request to kindly take appropriate action against Dr. N. John Camm by registering a theft report for taking medical equipment—including the echo portable tube probe and machine—without permission or authorization. The equipment should be considered stolen,” the complaint, in possession of TOI, reads.When contacted, IWUS director P.K. Vishwakarma told TOI he had received multiple calls on the matter and that the Damoh district collector had issued a notice to him as well.“We shared his resume with the hospital via a portal. However, neither the doctor nor the hospital responded to us. They entered into an agreement independently, without informing us, and he was hired,” said Vishwakarma.Hospital HR Pushpa Khare stated that Rs 2 lakh was paid to the placement agency as part of the hiring process. Vishwakarma denied this, saying, “Ask them which account they made this payment to.”The hospital claims that Dr. Camm was recruited for a salary of Rs 8 lakh per month, and that he took one month’s salary along with a portable cardiac machine worth nearly Rs 6 lakh.“When we asked him to get his documents verified, he stopped coming to the hospital and made away with the hospital’s machine,” said the HR.