UNAUTHORISED CLINICS CLOSED ONLY ON PAPERS Health Deptt-agents nexus: ‘Trap clinics’ flourishing in Jammu

By admin On Mar 19, 2017

VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: J&K Health Department may have cracked its whip by closing down four private clinics on papers only after conducting surprise inspections on March 11, but all these centres are fearlessly running their operations and brazenly referring patients outside the State.
This proves a close nexus between the health officers, police and agents who have set up unauthorized centres here to lure hapless patients.
STATE TIMES had exposed the nexus under caption “Mushroom growth of OPD Centres turn out as trap centres.”
As a consequence of the opening of such centres, many residential houses had been converted into the OPD centers, just to lure the patients and motivate them to go to Delhi for surgeries and other treatments. All this is being done without any permission. And, the Jammu Police is watching all this like mute spectator while agents and health officers are making huge money.
In a show off, a team of senior officers of the health department on March 11, had conducted the raids on the directions of the Health Minister Bali Bhagat across Hardas Orthopedic OPD Clinic, near Airport, Dr Gurvinder Singh’s Hargun OPD Clinic, Gandhi Nagar, Fortis Escorts OPD Clinic, Trikuta Nagar and Amandeep Multi-Specialty OPD Clinic, Greater Kailash Chowk.
Without any fear of getting trapped by Health Department’s raids, another similar health operator cum agent is sending messages to locals for the last few days on whatsapp and facebook on behalf of Medanta, New Delhi. The message reads as “HEART OPD: BY: Dr. Vijay Kohli – (Director) & Dr HR Tomar-(Sr. Consultant) Medanta Heart Institute, From Medanta -The Medicity Hospital Gurgaon will be Available For OPD/Consultation In Jammu . Day & Date: Saturday, 18th March 2017 OPD Timings: From 9am to 2pm . Venue: Medanta Mediconsult Centre , 87-A, Gole Market Gandhi Nagar ,Jammu. For Appointments call: Mr Sudhanshu Sharma At +91 94191-91439, 0191-2458647
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From Medanta -The Medicity Hospital Gurgaon will be Available For OPD/Consultation As per Schedule.. Day & Date: Saturday, 20th of March 2017 Venue: Jammu Mediconsult Centre, 87-A Gole Market Gandhi Nagar Jammu (Near Sai Dham Mandir).For Appointments Call: Reception At +91-191-2458647 (Between Office Hours on All Working Days) or Message at: +91 9419191439”
These private hospitals/clinics have opened up OPD centres by hiring residential buildings through local agents in posh areas of Jammu city and have been luring patients by way of attracting them through advertisements and king size hoardings.
These centres first invite patients to consult their consultants and then direct them to report to their main centres in metro cities for follow up medical treatment.
Basically, lack of infrastructure at GMC Jammu and other periphery hospitals leave patients vulnerable and expose them to private clinics, which have taken menacing proportions with Delhi based hospitals making their openings in the Temple City.
The OPD centers lure patients and bargain with them regarding the cost of treatment and surgeries outside the state. Already existing private nursing homes in Jammu san facilities like waste management, adequate space, hygiene, doctors and para-medical staff.
In J&K, over ninety per cent nursing homes do not meet the required criteria.
When contacted, Health Minister Bali Bhagat, he, as usual, assured to take action against such death trap centres. “These unregistered clinics are operating in connivance with senior health officers and the agents of corporate hospitals, who will take action against them, “said a chemist.