Belthangadi: An illegal healthcare centre fleecing customers for over two years without getting valid permission from the government agencies, shut down its operations overnight following a (Right to Information) RTI expose.
The Speciality Healthcare Centre operating from Lobo Towers in Santhe Katte area of the town downed shutters in quick time and those running the centre are absconding. The healthcare centre had made a building lease agreement in the name of Chandrashekar Anchan and his wife Kokila, both employed in the nearby government hospital. Subsequently, they had obtained certain clearances from the local Town Muncipal Council (TMC) to run the centre.
An ENT specialist and physician connived with Chandrashekar, who stocked and traded drugs and medicines widely used in the government hospital from the aforesaid outlet. When few raised alarm over their covert deals in the past, they managed to escape by flashing fake documents.
Suspecting their modus operandi, an RTI activist had sought more details about the clinic. Sensing trouble, Chandrashekar and his accomplices removed the name board and escaped with drugs and other materials stored inside.
Public suspect the role of drug control department officials in the entire illegal business. Despite lodging several complaints in the past, the lukewarm response by the officials forced people to seek an RTI query.They feel that without the support of the officials from drug control department, it is impossible to run the business fearlessly for over two years.
There are several allegations against these two government doctors forcing patients visiting the nearby government hospital to consult them at the “Speciality Healthcare Centre.”
“None can store drugs meant for government hospitals at private clinics according to the law. In this case, the man in charge of stocking drugs in the government hospital, not only stored them at his private healthcare centre but also traded them for huge profits thereby taking innocent patients for a ride”, people in the area allege.
Despite having knowledge of the illegal operations, the authorities concerned turning a blind eye for over two years to the complaints is really unfortunate, they rued.
