Doctor duo accused of denying services to aid private labs

 

A junior woman doctor, who had joined the CHC recently and who opposed these moves, was allegedly targeted and threatened. A complaint has been given to the Thrissur district medical officer and an inquiry initiated.

 

When contacted, Dr Sugeetha, Thrissur district medical officer, confirmed that she had received a complaint, but refused to divulge details. “I had marked it for an inquiry by the deputy DMO. However, when our team went there, both the doctors were on leave and we could not conduct the inquiry.”

 

The superintendent, Dr Prameela Rani and her husband, an assistant surgeon have been accused of closing down the hospital lab by 11 am and directing patients to get tests done at a private lab outside. They were also accused of directing patients to buy medicines from private pharmacies after being refused the free medicines they were entitled to from the hospital pharmacy. The couple has been with CHC for over 10 years.

 

“They refused to give my wife her Onam advance salary giving false excuses. When I went to the sub treasury to check, we found that everything the superintendent had said was a lie. The superintendent then locked up my wife in her room and abused her, threatening to end her medical career, if she dared to move against them,” Radhakrishnan, husband of junior doctor Bindhya Radhakrishnan told Deccan Chronicle. He said even patients have recorded evidence on videos of being turned away by the lab staff and being asked to go to private labs.

 

“There is also largescale misuse of unnecessary drugs. This couple unnecessarily prescribes ‘Amicasin’, an antibiotic, for every patient who consults them. The main victims are the 15,000 weaver families at Kuthambulli, who depend on this CHC,” Mr Radhakrishnan added.

 

When contacted, Dr Prameela Rani refused to comment. “You can investigate. The superintendent has nothing to say ,” a male voice to whom Dr Rani passed the phone, said.