The Senior Medical Officer of sub-divisional hospital, Phagwara was put under suspension today for allegedly forcing patients to purchase medicines and undertake tests in the market against the government rules.
Health & Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani suspended Dr Narinder Singh after the department's principal secretary Vini Mahajan's surprise visit to the hospital.
She found out that the patients were being made to purchase medicines and undertake laboratory tests from outside the hospital, officials said.
The government had announced 218 types of essential drugs and various other consumables and suture materials would be provided free of cost at all government hospitals.
The secretary found out that even the indoor patients were not being provided medicines within the hospital, they said.
Taking a serious note of the irregularity, the Health Secretary discussed the matter with the minister who directed the SMO be immediately placed under suspension.
The SMO of ESI Hospital Phagwara has been given the charge of the hospital.
Meanwhile, the government has transferred Dr Varindra Singh, Civil Surgeon, Kapurthala as Gurdaspur Civil Surgeon on the administrative grounds.
Dr HS Kahlon, Civil Surgeon Gurdaspur has been posted as Civil Surgeon of Kapurthala.
