Admn, health dept begin probes against Tarn Taran civil hospital
TARN TARAN: The district administration and Punjab health department have initiated separate probes against Tarn Taran civil hospital for clearing 14 policemen in a dope test at the hospital, a day after HT highlighted the issue.
Tarn Taran deputy commissioner (DC) Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal said a committee led by additional deputy commissioner (general), Sandeep Kumar, has been formed to probe the matter thoroughly and a strict action will be taken against guilty officials and employees of the civil hospital after the committee’s report.
Similarly, director of health & family welfare, Avneet Kaur, has directed Tarn Taran civil surgeon Dr Anoop Singh to submit his report in the matter in two days.
Tarn Taran police had conducted dope test of 23 suspected cops at the civil hospital earlier this month. After the reports of all the policemen were found negative, it raised suspicion. Their re-tests were conducted at the Amritsar civil hospital on November 14 and out of 23 cops, 14 failed the dope test.
This came days after posters mentioning ‘anyone can get their fake dope test done at the civil hospital at just ₹5,000’ were found pasted on the hospital premises.
SSP Dahiya had told HT that since Tarn Taran civil hospital cleared all suspects and 14 of the total were found positive during their tests at Amritsar hospital, it smacked of ‘wrongdoings and collusions’ on the part of some officials of health department.
“We have taken a serious note of the report claiming false dope test reports were issued from Tarn Taran civil hospital. A committee under the ADC (general) has been constituted which will submit its probe report into the matter in 15 days. After the committee’s report, strict action will be taken against erring officials and employees of the hospital,” said the DC while talking to HT.
He said, “The committee will not only probe the issue of fake dope test reports, but also investigate other suspected wrongdoings. The committee has also been directed to investigate the record of all past cases of dope tests in the hospital. Those found guilty will not be spared.”
The DC said the district had already been suffering from drug menace for last many years and the administration will not tolerate any kind of negligence in drugs related issues.
Civil surgeon Anoop Singh said, “I have got a direction from principal secretary of health to probe the matter. The director of health and family welfare has also asked me to submit a report after probing the matter in two days. A committee to senior officials has been formed which has already initiated the probe.”
Harikrishan Arora, a social activist, had alleged that from hospital doctors to officials of the administration, all were involved in this practice of furnishing fake dope reports, especially which were required for arm licenses.