Major scam in purchase of Ayurvedic medicines: Mayor

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra, Leader of the House in the MCD Subhash Arya, Leader of House and Chairman of the MCD Standing Committee Vijender Gupta today said a major scam was going on in the purchase of Ayurvedic medicines in the MCD as well as treatment of patients.

Addressing a joint press conference here, Ms Mehra, Mr Arya and Mr Gupta said they had received various complaints that the patients coming for Ayurvedic treatment were not being provided with adequate medicines and instead costly medicines had been purchased in connivance with certain companies.

The statement came after they visited Ayurvedic hospitals in Delhi, accompanied by officers of the vigilance department, to take stock of facts about the above complaints.

While the Delhi Mayor visited Ballimaran Ayurvedic Hospital, Mr Arya and Mr Gupta visited Ayurvedic Hospital at Haiderpur. At the same time, Chairman of the Medical Relief and Public Health Committee V K Monga, visited Shahdara Panchkarma Hospital.

It was found that a major scam was going on in the purchase of medicines.

During the visit, MCD councillors enquired about medicines available in the stock and also talked to medical officers, para-medical staff as well as patients. They observed that in the records of the hospitals, the addresses of 85 to - 90 per cent patients were from outside Delhi. It was found that 65 per cent patients were new card holders.

It was also observed that Ayurvedic medicines, which included Swarna Bhasm were being distributed in more quantity than required.

''Being medical practitioners, nobody has noticed whether these medicines are needed by the patients for the treatment.

The quantity of medicines purchased and entered in the stock were not only kept in the stock room but in corridors, stairs and toilets. All the staff was trying to distribute these medicines in more quantity than required so that in the record, these can be shown as utilised. From the treatment point of view, it is not only immoral practice, but also harmful for patients.'' the MCD leaders said.

Ms Mehra, Mr Arya and Mr Gupta have directed the Commissioner that the Vigilance Department may be asked to investigate the matter in detail, so that the scam in purchase of Ayurvedic medicines and treatment of patients could be stopped.

UNI