According to a probe conducted by the health department, a gynecologist serving at the civil hospital in Ludhiana for just two months referred 243 pregnant patients to her husband’s private diagnostic center for an ultrasound test.

The one at the private center costs Rs. 800 per test, while an ultrasound at the civil hospital is free.

Dr. Jasbir Singh Aulakh, a civil surgeon at Ludhiana, told that the doctor was referring patients to her husband’s center as well as having a private practice at the same diagnostic center.

Dr. Jasbir Singh added that they have probed cases only two months after the allegations were brought to his attention. Gynecologist referred 243 pregnant women during this time. They have recommended that the state health and family welfare department take disciplinary action against her.

Most patients referred to the private practice come from underprivileged families who could not afford a private gynecologist, and this is the reason they opted for the civil hospital. The doctor has also been found allegedly misusing OPD slips from the civil hospital to send patients for private tests.

On Monday, the health department sent a recommendation for action.

Allegations against the gynecologist first appeared on December 30, 2023, when Dr. Jasbir Singh was on a visit to the civil hospital. Afterwards, an inquiry was conducted into the allegations in January 2024.

Overall, the gynecologist referred 125 patients to the private center in October and 118 in November. Among those cases, the doctor misused OPD slips in 233 cases, it has been alleged. Not even a single slip is used in these cases bearing the central registration (CR) number or the OPD number of the patient.

The CR number is given to a patient on their OPD slip once they have been registered in the hospital record.

Dr. Jasbir Singh had made it mandatory for all doctors at district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, primary health centers, and community health centers to furnish self-declaration forms stating that they did not have private practices to curb the unscrupulous practice. He had sent directives in January to all senior medical officers (SMOs) to get such self-certified declarations from doctors working under them every month.

The official said the government gave a non-practicing allowance to doctors so that they did not keep a private practice.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Komal Bhoi/MSM)