Kidney transplantation case: Continental too orders probe
The hospital is cooperating in the investigation with appropriate authorities as required by applicable law.
Hyderabad: The Director of Medical Education has served notices to Continental Hospital, asking it to explain the allegations of irregularities in kidney transplant involving Bangladeshi donors and recipients.
Madhapur police issued an FIR based on a complaint filed by Dr Praveen Kumar, former Medical Director of Continental Hosptal, who alleged that his signature was forged on the “forward note” that establishes that the donor and receiver are related. In a separate complaint to the DME, he also alleged that one Tareque Azam Choudhary of Choto Hossainpur Rajganj in Bangladesh, who was arrested in September 2011 in Dhaka in a kidney transplant fraud, had a tie-up with Continental Hospital to supply donors and recipients from Bangladesh.
In July 2016, Contin-ental Hospital Limited signed an agreement with “health care facilitator” Tareque Azam to pay him 20 per cent of the treatment bill as a “facilitation fee”.
When contacted, Continental Hospital’s management said in a note: ‘Any premature disclosure may impede the investigation. The hospital is cooperating in the investigation with appropriate authorities as required by applicable law. Continental Hospital as an organisation has always believed in the highest standard of corporate governance. This is evident from the fact that the Hospital has, as per its internal code of conduct, ordered an independent investigation.’ (without necessarily accepting the correctness of the allegations) even prior to initiation of any regulatory investigation.’