Bengal mulls action against doctors for attending Abhishek’s Sebashray camps without approval

Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) The West Bengal Health Department is considering disciplinary action against government doctors attached to state-run medical institutions who allegedly attended and treated patients at Sebashray health camps organised by Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee without obtaining prior approval from competent authorities.

Sources in the health department said a four-member probe committee, formed to investigate alleged irregularities at the Sebashray health camps, has already begun questioning some government doctors who attended the camps without prior permission from higher authorities.

“Depending on the satisfactory level of their replies, the four-member probe committee will decide whether disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against them and what would be the nature of those proceedings,” said the state health department source.

According to sources, the probe committee is asking whether members took permission from their reporting managers to attend the health camps and, if so, which doctors they sought permission from.

In such cases, the committee is expected to verify the claims directly with the concerned reporting authorities to establish their authenticity. The inquiry panel is also examining several other alleged irregularities linked to the Sebashray camps.

“One serious allegation is that medical interns and even final-year medical students from different medical colleges & hospitals in the state were forced to attend the Sebashray health camps and even attend to the students. Another serious allegation is that sophisticated medical equipment, including ultrasonography machines from state-run medical colleges, was taken to the Sebashray health camps in an unauthorized manner and used there,” said a state health department official.

The probe committee members are also likely to question the medical interns and medical students whether they attended the Sebashray health camps voluntarily or because of pressure from their higher authorities or any political personality.

However, the state health department official said the probe committee is not in favour of acting tough against the medical interns and medical students who attended the Sebashray health camps, considering their future professional careers.

“They might be spared but only after a strong note of caution,” said the state health department official.

–IANS

src/skp