Bangalore Hospital Files Complaint Against Employees

Taking action against its employees who were providing cancer medicines to the indoor admitted patients from other sources than the hospital dispensary, a Bengaluru hospital has now filed a police complaint against its 3 employees.

Based on the complaint filed by the managing trustee of Dr. BS Srinath of Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Center, a case has been registered under IPC sections:

• 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to fifty rupees)
• 406 (criminal breach of trust)
• 120B (criminal conspiracy)

It was alleged in the complaint that some employees of the cancer hospital were caught on charges of selling medicines to patients illegally. Despite the same medicine being available in the hospital dispensary, the staff was purchasing it from outside and allegedly giving it to the cancer patients at lower prices than what was being charged at the hospital dispensary.

As part of the ongoing investigation, the police will also issue a notice to those accused to appear for questioning.

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The matter came to light on Thursday, 7 December 2023, when the hospital management checked all the reports. It is suspected that this act has been going on for almost a year. The managing trustee of the hospital, Dr. BS Srinath, has filed a complaint against Demappa Hannavar, Satish R, former employee Chandrappa BM, and other employees. Dr. Srinath has accused these employees of selling illegally purchased medicines, which has caused loss to the hospital. He also told the police that the patients undergoing hospital treatment and surgery are issued medicines from the hospital dispensary.

A senior police officer told Times of India that the investigating officer is going to issue notices to the accused persons to appear for questioning, and necessary action will also be taken after the investigation. “We’re going to ask the hospital to provide details of the total loss caused and for how long the illegal sale was taking place,” a senior police officer said.

During the verification of documents, Demappa was caught red-handed with medicines which were imported from outside. When he was interrogated about this matter, he confessed that “the medicines were from outside and sold to patients at a lower price than what the hospital charged.” He further added, “The medicines were sourced based on the instructions given by Satish, HOD of the outpatient (OP) pharmacy.”

He confirmed that he was purchasing the medicines from one Chandrappa, an ex-employee of the hospital, who had opened his own medical store after quitting his job at the hospital in 2022.

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