Polio drugs in ice-cream factory

Senior Dumka Sadar Hospital officials wined and dined with the money allotted to combat kala azar and malaria and to set up a cold storage facility in the hospital. With the result that polio immunisation drugs had to be kept in an ice-cream factory.

Senior Dumka Sadar Hospital officials wined and dined with the money allotted to combat kala azar and malaria and to set up a cold storage facility in the hospital. With the result that polio immunisation drugs had to be kept in an ice-cream factory.

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The corruption was unearthed after a visit by health secretary Shivendu to Dumka. Finding irregularities, he promptly suspended the officials after which raids were conducted at the hospital and the official residence of Brinda Ram, additional chief medical officer (ACMO).

The raiding team, which included sub-divisional officer Manish Ranjan, civil surgeon Dr A.P. Singh and executive magistrate Ashok Kumar Jha, found hundreds of bottles of premium liquor at Ram’s residence and the hospital.

The team also recovered stocks of contraceptives, antibiotics, injections and bandages worth over Rs 60 lakh. Doctors at the hospital said the scamsters had tried to burn the medicines in a bid to destroy evidence.

It is also alleged that the additional chief medical officer used to sell the medicines to drug shops near the hospital.