Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : Bhojpur DM Roushan Kushwaha has ordered a probe by the Director, District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), into alleged collection of exorbitant prices of Covid medicine and injections from the patients as also selling them in black-market by some some private hospitals including Sunilam Hospital located near Judge Kothi Mor under Nawada police station, Ara.
The DM said stern action would be taken against Sunilam Hospital after inquiry report reaches him and added that the registration of the hospital might be cancelled. The DM has also formed a team headed by the Civil Surgeon, Bhojpur, asking it to submit a report related on Sunilam Hospital. The DM said that he has taken serious note of the matter.
It may be mentioned here that Bhojpur District Administration has fixed number of beds at private hospitals for corona patients that includes 30 beds each at Rajendra Hosital and Sunilam Hospital, 20 beds each at New Life Hospital and Health Heaven, and 10 beds at Ayushman Hospital.
The matter came to light when Corona positive Suryadeo Upadhyaya of village Khanita under Pawana police station was admitted to Sunilam Hospital. His son Rahul Upadhayaya alleged that Sunilam Hospital administration realised exorbitant prices of medicine and injections and these medicine were also being sold in black market. A social worker Abhishek Dwiwedi showed receipts issued by Sunilam Hospital, which is enough to prove that the hospital administration is charging exorbitant prices for medicine and injections from the patients. The receipts showed that the hospital charged Rs 1,500 instead of Rs 585 printed on Enoxaparin 0.6 injection and Rs 4,318 instead of Rs 700 printed on Mero 1g injection.
When contacted, Dr Sunil Kumar, Manager of Sunilam Hospital, said that these medicines are not available in open market anywhere and so he purchased them from black-market but he refused to disclose names, place, and date of purchase of these medicine though he admitted that syndicate of black-marketeers was active across the state including Ara to Patna.
Dr Sunil Kumar said that he purchased these medicines through a Patna based agent at very high prices. These black-marketeers live at G M Road, Patna. Dr Sunil Kumar is in touch with them and purchases medicine from them. Dr Kumar refused to disclose the names, address, and contact numbers of agents and black-marketers. He said that he had purchased medicines and injections a fortnight ago when Coronavirus was at its peak and added that saving lives of patients is his priority and he wished to save lives at any cost.