Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 09 2010:
The investigation conducted by the State Vigilance Commission into the case of an expectant mother dying and the child still-born at a private clinic recently has led to speculation whether Government doctors are plying their trades in private medical centres under fictitious names.
Private medical centre, Langol View charitable Clinic near RIMS Hospital was recently in the news for the wrong reason when one Keisham (O) Soni Devi (23) of Wabagai Thingel Leikai died there along with her child following complication during a delivery case, which led the patient party to allege that it was due to the negligence on the part of the doctor.
The doctor namely Irom Chourajit was a gynaecologist of JNIMS Hospital, Porompat who referred the expectant mother to the private clinic where the young housewife died on April 4 .
A Vigilance Commission source revealed that during its investigation of the case, Dr Chourajit was found to be drawing regular incentive from the private clinic under separate initials of Dr ICS and Dr Homen and not his official name as is registered when he joined State Health Service in 1984 .
Dr Chourajit is informed to have joined Langol View Charitable Clinic as a consultant gynaecologist in 2008 and since then has been drawing incentives under the two initials apart from enjoying non practising allowance entitled to Govt doctors.
He was also available for consultation at the private clinic even during office hours inspite of being on duty at the hospital where he was posted, the source disclosed adding that he received consultation fees from the private clinic.
On its part the Vigilance Commission has reportedly recommended that the non practising allowances he had been drawing in between 2008 and April 3 of the current year be recovered from Dr Chourajit's monthly entitlement as penalty for violating Government regulations.
Moreover, the Commission also recommended that a Departmental Inquiry be initiated against the doctor.
Mention may be made that after outcries by the patient party of the deceased Soni, Dr Chourajit had been placed under suspension and a magisterial inquiry also on in the case.