VO raids 41 clinics, labs, nursing homes in six distts; most found running illegally

JSC after series of complaints, report being submitted to CM

IRREGULARITIES GALORE

Following are some of the findings compiled by the Vigilance Organisation after the surprise checks. Leading labs and clinics in Jammu, like Atulya and Maharishi Dayanand, didn't have mandatory renewals. Some labs in Kathua had outdated and expired reagents being used for many vital tests; in Rajouri, government doctors and technicians were found working in private clinics during office hours; unqualified technicians and some non-state subjects having obtained permissions illegally.

SUMIT SHARMA

JAMMU: In a surprise crackdown on over three dozen private health clinics, nursing homes and diagnostic centres across Jammu region, the Vigilance Organisation found most of them working in complete violation of norms and endangering the life of unsuspecting patients.
The list of irregularities and discrepancies found by the Vigilance Organisation in day-long region-wide raids is quite long but glaring ones are the following: working without renewal of mandatory registration; outdated and expired reagents being used for many vital tests; government doctors and technicians working in private clinics during office hours; unqualified technicians and some non-state subjects having obtained permissions illegally.
Director Vigilance Organisation, Muneer Ahmed Khan, who has been pro-actively pursuing the probe, told The News Now that an assessment report is being prepared for submission to the Chief Minister's office for further action. Describing the raids as Joint Surprise Checks, Khan said that the VO teams were accompanied by the officials from Health Department, Drug and Food Control Department, Engineering Departments and had the presence of Executive Magistrates.
These Joint Surprise Checks, Khan said, were conducted in the wake of a number of complaints the Vigilance Organisation received from people in different areas.
The Joint Surprise Check which were conducted on 41 nursing homes, diagnostic centres and laboratories including seven in Jammu district, seven in Samba district, and six in Kathua district, six in Udhampur district, seven in Reasi district and eight in Rajouri. During checking in these nursing homes, diagnostic centers, the sleuths of the SVO found that most of them are un-registered,without renewal of registrations, carrying out tests/surgical activities without proper and valid permissions, using expired reagents/testing equipments, engaging un-qualified technicians, building and other infra-structure not as per J&K Nursing Homes and Clinical Establishment (Registration and Licensing) Act, 1963 & other rules en-vogue, employees of Government Hospitals working in Private nursing home/ diagnostic laboratories during working hours etc.
In Samba , nursing homes, diagnostic centres which were functioning without registrations and were sealed by representatives of Health department included Vaishnav Sagar X-ray Center, Vijaypur, Samba; Satya Clinical Lab, Vijaypur; Modern Clinical Lab, Samba; Parveen Clinical Lab, Samba; Padha Clinical Lab, Samba; Trikuta Clinical Lab and ECG Unit, Samba.
Meanwhile, in Shri Aum Multi Speciality Hospital, Bari Brahmana, X ray unit was found un-registered which was functional since March 2016 and the same has also been sealed by representatives of Health department and some medicines were found expired in the Pharmacist store.
In Jammu district, it was found that registration of Maharishi Dayanand Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Jammu and Steadfast Healthcare Private Limited situated in Atulya Complex, Bakshi Nagar has expired since 31/03/2016. Moreover in Trikuta Diagnostic Center behind Shakuntala Theatre, Management/X-ray technician namely Sunil Kumar couldnot produce the valid certificate/ diploma required for the job. In Jammu district, expired reagents and kits were found in Nidaan Diagnostic Lab, Gandhi Nagar; Aastha Nursing Home, Ambphalla; Triveni Nursing Home, Gandhi Nagar; Care and Care, Trikuta Nagar.
In Udhampur and Reasi districts, registration of Army Clinical Lab, Katra, Reasi; Apollo X-ray Clinic Lab, Udhampur were found expired, and sealed by representatives of Health department; Deepak Clinic Lab, Udhampur was also found functioning with expired registration and running illegally.
In Rajouri district, Star Nursing Home; 24-hour Child Care Clinic; MF Diagnostics; M/S New Healthcare Lab( Operation Theatre, Clinical lab, X-ray unit); Dr. Nissar Surgical Hospital ( Clinical unit, X-ray Unit, Ultrasound); Al Faiz Surgical Clinic ( X-ray unit), M/S Healthcare Surgical Clinic has been sealed by representatives of Health department. During the surprise check at Al Faiz Surgical Clinic, Rajouri being run by Dr Mohd Salam posted as Orthopaedician in district Hospital Rajouri, one government employee namely Mohd Aslam S/O Fazal Hussain R/O Darhal posted as basic health worker in district hospital, Rajouri was also found working in the said clinic during Office hours.
In Kathua district, it was found that registration of Gupta Hospital and Research Center, Kathua had expired since 08/11/2015; National Global Digital X-ray Unit, Kathua had expired since 31/03/2015 and were functioning illegally. In Kathua district, expired reagents/kits/injections were found in Chauhan Medicity Clinical Lab, Kalibari (being run and owned by non state-subject namely Daljit Singh Chauhan who belongs to Pathankot in Punjab). The lab is also found without display of rate list and in violation of norms for clinical units. In Bharat Diagnostic Laboratory, Kathua, medicines/testing kits etc were found expired.
The samples of expired reagents/medicines/kits have been lifted by the team through the drug inspectors of Drugs and Food Control Departments for further action. During the surprise check, statements of patients were also recorded who complained about the illegal practice of various Government Doctors in Private nursing homes/clinical establishments causing grave inconvenience to the patients visiting the Government Hospitals.
"During the further course of surprise check, relevant record of all the 41 nursing homes/diagnostic centers have been checked /seized by the sleuths of vigilance organization for further scrutiny and detailed action will follow after perusal of statements of patients, ascertaining the facts and involvement of Government employees indulging in illegal activities", said SVO.