ACC finds complaints of death certificates issued for money during surprise raid at Kushtia General Hospital
ACC probe follows complaints of patient harassment, overcharging and hospital irregularities.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found complaints that death certificates were allegedly issued in exchange for money during a surprise raid at Kushtia 250-bed General Hospital today (2 September).
A four-member ACC team, led by Suraiya Sultana, deputy assistant director of the commission's Kushtia Integrated District Office, conducted the operation from around 11:30am.
Speaking to journalists after the raid, Suraiya said the operation was carried out based on complaints of patient harassment, overcharging and irregularities in the pathology department, poor cleanliness and problems with the hospital's overall management.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"The most serious allegation we found is that death certificates were allegedly issued in exchange for money," she said.
She said the commission was verifying the relevant documents and information collected during the operation. If the allegations are found to be true, necessary legal and departmental action will be taken.
Two members of the team posed as ordinary patients and stood in queues at the hospital's ticket counter and other service points to observe the process and verify allegations from the patients' perspective.
According to ACC sources, the operation was kept highly confidential. Even the officials involved were reportedly not informed of their destination until shortly before they got into the vehicle.
During the nearly two-and-a-half-hour operation, the ACC officials found allegations that patients could obtain services or earlier serial numbers by making payments, bypassing the prescribed procedures and queues.
After conducting the undercover operation, the main team inspected several departments, including the blood bank, emergency department, pathology, ultrasonography unit, operation theatre, coronary care unit (CCU) and kitchen.
The officials also examined relevant records and documents.
They also spoke with patients and their relatives about the quality of services, harassment, additional charges and other irregularities. Several service recipients raised complaints over these issues.
Patients and their relatives have long complained about irregularities in healthcare services at the hospital, particularly patient harassment, the activities of brokers and irregularities in different services.
Hospital authorities have repeatedly cited staff shortages and other limitations when addressing such complaints.
The ACC said it would determine its next course of action after analysing the information and documents collected during the operation.
