KGMU prof suspended for forcing patients to buy meds from pvt store

Lucknow: Faculty member in the ophthalmology department of KGMU, Prof Sanjiv Gupta, was suspended on charges of prescribing medicines and lenses for cataract surgery that were available at a private shop instead of the subsidised products sold through hospital-run stores.

The university also sought an explanation from the head of the ophthalmology department over the alleged lack of supervision.

The action was taken by the vice-chancellor Sonia Nityanand on the recommendation of a disciplinary committee constituted to probe allegations made by a Gorakhpur-based patient. The patient claimed that Prof Gupta asked him to purchase medicines and lenses worth about Rs 18,000 from private stores, even though the same items were available at KGMU's HRF store for Rs 5,000-6,000.

According to KGMU spokesperson Prof KK Singh, the patient approached the chief minister during the Janata Darshan programme. The state govt subsequently sought a report from the university, following which a five-member disciplinary committee was formed. The committee recorded the patient's statement and conducted an inquiry.

The panel also examined the prescriptions of 30 other patients, of whom 17 submitted evidence that they too were asked to purchase medicines from outside the university. The probe further found that, based on the doctor's prescriptions, his associate used to escort patients to the private store for purchases. The panel suspected that a commission arrangement existed for such purchases. An FIR will be lodged against the associate, Singh said.

The sister-in-charge of the department's operation theatre also was served a notice for allegedly allowing medicines purchased from outside the university to be brought into the OT without the approval of the nodal officer.

TOI tried to contact the HoD of the ophthalmology department and Prof Gupta, but they did not respond.