• Source:Jagran News Network

The Bihar government has decided to take strict action against touts exploiting poor and vulnerable patients in government hospitals for financial gain. Those found misleading patients and diverting them to private hospitals, diagnostic centres, or pharmacies will face firm legal action. More importantly, any doctor or medical staff found complicit in such activities will face even harsher departmental and legal consequences.

In this regard, Health Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh on Tuesday wrote to all District Magistrates, directing them to constitute special raid teams (dhava dal) to carry out surprise inspections at medical college hospitals, district and sub-divisional hospitals, community health centres, additional primary health centres, and health sub-centres.

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Each raid team will include a Senior Deputy Collector, other district-level officers, and doctors from government hospitals. These teams will conduct inspections and investigations across healthcare facilities to identify touts and illegal activities.

At the state level, Additional Secretary Dhananjay Kumar has been appointed as the nodal officer to monitor and review daily action reports. District-level nodal officers will also be appointed, who will submit daily reports on enforcement actions to the Health Department.

The Health Secretary has also written to the Director General of Police (DGP), requesting that all district Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) ensure police-level investigations in hospitals and take necessary legal action.

In his letter, the Health Secretary noted that there have been persistent complaints of patients at government hospitals being deliberately misled and diverted to expensive private hospitals, diagnostic centres, and pharmacies. Employees and agents of private nursing homes, diagnostic and radiology centres, and pharmacies are reportedly operating within hospital premises to lure patients.

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Such practices deprive patients of government healthcare facilities and obstruct the implementation of public welfare health schemes. Legal action will be taken against those involved for obstructing public services and exploiting patients.

The letter clearly states that if any government doctor or employee is found colluding with touts or private healthcare agents, they will not be spared. Strict departmental and legal action will be initiated against them. The Health Department will directly monitor daily progress reports to ensure effective enforcement.


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