CHENNAI, MAY 20: Nine employees of the Government General Hospital have been suspended after a preliminary inquiry into complaints of extortion in the cardiothoracic block. A detailed inquiry has been ordered and the final report is expected to be submitted to the dean by June 6.The action follows an expose in The Indian Express about a racket extracting money from patients undergoing heart surgery.
General Hospital dean-in-charge Dr Vadivelu said the employees under suspension include lascars, male nursing assistants, barbers and lift operators, but declined to name them. Dean Dr B Premkumar, meanwhile, is out of station.
A Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption (DVAC) official met the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University vice chancellor and the Director of Medical Education to initiate action against the erring staff. In fact, two DVAC constables investigating the matter, had a first-hand experience of the rampant corruption in the hospital, sources said.
The DVAC, meanwhile, willpursue its own procedures to book the erring hospital staff, sources added.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.