July 12th 2024.
A team from the National Health Mission (NHM) arrived at Rourkela Government Hospital on Tuesday to investigate the alleged irregularities at the renowned health facility. For the second consecutive day on Thursday, the three-member team carried out a thorough review and examination of the relevant documents. It has been reported that they have seized several documents that contain incriminating evidence of corruption.
The Director of RGH, Ganesh Das, shed some light on the ongoing probe, stating that the inquiry panel is looking into the corruption that has recently been uncovered. They are specifically investigating issues related to security, laundry services, and even the theft of mortuary freezers. The Director also mentioned that the team is set to leave tonight after completing their investigation.
Mohit Kumar, the Hospital Manager, has been served two show cause notices by the National Health Mission - his appointing authority. However, he has not responded to either of them. The Director has referred to Kumar as a "habitual offender" and has personally issued three show cause notices to him in the past for his misconduct. The three members of the NHM team are Priyadarshi Dash, senior consultant for P&IM, Malaya Kumar Panigrahi, state finance manager for NHM, and Ajit Kumar Biswal, consultant for HR at NHM.
It is worth noting that OP had previously reported on the extensive irregularities in the hospital's laundry billing. This has now escalated into a major scandal as it was revealed that a vendor, M/s Mediaid Medical Ancillary Services, was paid a staggering amount of Rs 20 lakh for providing "excellent service." This decision was allegedly made by the former Director of RGH. The contract with the vendor was for five years and they claimed the amount after just three years.
The process of this payment was said to be initiated by Mohit Kumar, who has recently obtained anticipatory bail in a corruption case related to four missing freezers from the hospital mortuary. On July 6, the Mission Director of NHM, Odisha, issued a show cause notice to Kumar on three grounds - taking leave without prior approval from the Superintendent cum Director of RGH, taking Earned Leave without a valid reason or supporting documents, and being involved in gross irregularities in the procurement and disposal of BS freeze chambers for the mortuary.
Both the NHM team and the Director have deemed Kumar's actions as "unauthorized," and it could lead to serious consequences for him. It is clear that the investigation into the corruption at RGH is ongoing, and the team is determined to uncover the truth behind these alleged irregularities.
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