Sakshi Chhabra
The PCMC (Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation) registered an FIR against three doctors for allegedly taking Rs. 1 Lakh from the relatives of a COVID patient for providing them with a ventilator bed at the Auto Cluster hospital in Chinchwad.
This hospital is set up by the PCMC in order to provide free healthcare to the COVID-19 patients.
PCMC has appointed Fortune Sparsh Healthcare Pvt as a contractor to run the hospital and provide medical care to all the COVID patients in need.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad police are all set to arrest the three doctors, one from the Auto Cluster hospital and the other two practicing at a private hospital.
The complaint was filed by the Additional Municipal Commissioner Ulhas Jagtap.
The complaint stated that, “At the PCMC general body meeting held on April 30, the corporators made serious allegations against the contractor running the healthcare facility. They alleged that one doctor from Auto Cluster hospital and two private hospital doctors took Rs one lakh from a patient for getting a ventilator bed in the Auto Cluster hospital. Since the allegations of money being taken have been made, we request you to kindly take action in the matter.”
When Dr. Amol Holkunde, CEO of Sparsh was asked he denied the allegations that anyone from his facility had taken money for providing a ventilator bed.
He further stated that “Actually, it is the modus operandi of private hospitals to make false calls to Auto Cluster facilities and then lie to them that a bed is available only on payment of Rs one lakh. These private doctors then send patients to the Auto Cluster facility. If the family does not get the bed, they then return the amount. If the family gets the bed, they retain the amount. On our part, we admit the patients after they are referred to us by YCM hospital, Jumbo hospital or through civic helpline numbers. This facility is free of cost. PCMC pays us the contracted amount, why would anyone collect anything from the patient?”
Rajesh Patil, the Municipal Commissioner assured that the guilty will be punished and in accordance an FIR had been filed.