Viral Video of Patient Runout: Alleged Hospital Scam in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh

A startling incident has emerged in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, where a patient was allegedly kept in the ICU of Geeta Devi Hospital.

The episode gained public attention following a viral social media video of the patient making a breakaway.

Hospital scam is a significant issue in India, affecting both the public and private sectors. A study analyzing healthcare frauds from 2015 to 2020 found that 60% of frauds were committed by private hospitals, while 40% involved government hospitals. Representative Image: Pexels

Published on:

07 Mar 2025, 3:42 pm

A startling incident has emerged in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, where a patient was allegedly kept in the ICU of Geeta Devi Hospital. The hospital staff had deceived the patient's wife regarding his condition, saying that he was in a coma and required immediate treatment, in a bid to extort money from the family.

The Actual Incident

The man was taken to the hospital, where he was admitted after sustaining an injury from a fight. He was informed by his family that he had incurred a severe fracture of the spine and was in a coma and needed costly treatment.

The hospital asked for money to treat him, and the family managed to collect Rs 50,000 in the first instance. Afterward, they were required to collect an additional Rs 1 lakh because his health was claimed to have worsened. The patient, who was supposed to have been restrained in the ICU, was able to free himself and dash out into the streets. The dramatic scenario bared the fake scam, with him seeming conscious and not suffering from a coma.

In recent years, India's flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, has faced challenges with fraudulent claims. Over Rs 562 crore in fake claims were detected, with Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh accounting for a significant portion of these fraudulent activities. Representative Image: Pexels

Public reaction and investigation

The episode gained public attention following a viral social media video of the patient making a breakaway:

MP is not for beginners..
A Pvt Hospital in Ratlam restrained a patient in the ICU and told the family that he went to coma and extorted 2 lacs from them in the name of treatment. Later the patient ran away from the ICU wearing a breathing tube and a catheter and punctured the… pic.twitter.com/EXcNdDBEHc
— NCMIndia Council For Men Affairs (@NCMIndiaa) March 6, 2025

It left people outraged, with many calling for tougher regulation on hospital scams and an investigation into the episode. As a result of public pressure, a three-member committee has been constituted to investigate charges against Geeta Devi Hospital scam, which has been accused of overbilling, dispensing incorrect medicines, and negligence in care.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal/MSM)

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