Hospitals infected with theft

Two months ago, when Naseem Ahmed, a storekeeper at the Delhi government-run Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini, reported for duty, he was shocked to find locks of cupboards broken and empty boxes strewn around.

Two months ago, when Naseem Ahmed, a storekeeper at the Delhi government-run Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini, reported for duty, he was shocked to find locks of cupboards broken and empty boxes strewn around.

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Several surgical equipment and items which were later valued at Rs 55 lakh,had been stolen. The matter was brought to the notice of higher authorities and a case was registered.

The incident was reported on September 29. Ahmed had been on leave on for two days on account of public holidays. The case was transferred to the Crime Branch, which during its probe found that it was not a case of minor theft. Equipment and items were pilfered, apparently in connivance with doctors and hospital staff. “The stolen items were worth several lakhs. They were sold in the grey market,” said a senior police officer.

“During investigations it was found that the theft could not have taken place without the help of the doctors or the staff,” the police officer said.

According to the officer, no outsider had access to the storeroom where the equipment was kept.Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia told HT that the rot runs deep.

“It is public money and the equipment was purchased with the taxpayer’s money. Someone has to be accountable for it. How can one tolerate this (pilferage)?” said Walia.

“The racket goes deep and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch is probing it. Preliminary enquiry also revealed that several expensive medicine, which were not required, were also purchased by the hospital administration,” said Walia. She added that following the theft, the medical superintendent of BSA hospital was suspended.

The surgical equipment that were stolen are required during emergency services everyday and are critical for the hospital’s smooth functioning. “The locks of the main entry gate and that of the storeroom were found intact, which means that there was no forced entry,” said the officer.

“We have seized the duty charts and details of the hospital staff. We are questioning all of them, including doctors,” said the officer. Police said a similar case of theft was reported from Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in Hari Nagar. It was possible the same gang and dealers were involved in the crime, they said.

Similar thefts have been reported from Lady Hardinge Medical Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).