Saifai's University of Medical Sciences Assistant Professor Dr. Sameer Saraf implanted sub-standard pacemakers in over 200 patients between 2017 and 2021, under the pretense that the pacemakers were new-generation MRI-proof ones. He had allegedly charged the patients extremely high costs, nearly double their worth, even for those covered under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, while treating them with very low-quality, locally sourced pacemakers. Following the surgeries, many patients experienced complications of various degrees, which led them to alert the university regarding the doctor’s apparent malpractice.
Following this, Dr. Raj Kumar, the university's vice chancellor, issued an order for a comprehensive investigation, which commenced in 2021. The investigation showed that the devices, which the doctor had said were newer, imported models, were locally made and did not adhere to established requirements. In December 2021, following these disclosures, the physician was the subject of a complaint filed by Adesh Kumar, the Chief Medical Superintendent at the time. Furthermore, it was reported that numerous people under the physician's care had died as a result of these pacemakers.
In February 2022, an inquiry was started, and as a result, the doctor was removed from suspension. During the inquest, it was also discovered that the doctor had traveled abroad and led an opulent lifestyle supported by the business that produced those subpar pacemakers. Furthermore, he had bought medical paraphernalia from the company in 2019 for over a crore, even though there were enough products in stock. These startling conclusions came to light after a two-year inquest by the Saifai police department.
The authorities subsequently took the doctor into custody on Tuesday of this week after their investigation yielded evidence of his guilt. Nagendra Chaubey, the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Etawah, carried out the investigations. The crew was directed by Station House Officer M. Kamil to the university, where the arrest was made. Subsequently, Etawah SSP Sanjay Varma asserted that the doctor would appear in court in Lucknow and face charges brought against him under the 1988 Prevention of Corruption Act.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Bharkhavy K V)
