Covid-19 test irregularity: Sudhakar announces suspension of maternity hospital staff

A lab technician, who was involved in Covid-19 testing irregularities at the Pobbathi Maternity Hospital in V V Puram, has been suspended and a criminal case will be registered against him and an ASHA worker, said Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar, here on Tuesday.

Speaking to mediapersons, he said that false negative Covid-19 reports at the Pobbathi Maternity Hospital came to his notice through media reports.

A team, consisting of the joint commissioners and health officers, was sent to the hospital for inspection immediately on the minister’s instruction.

Read: AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial data only 56 days old, need further monitoring: Sudhakar

An FIR will be registered against the lab technician who was on contract and the ASHA worker who were issuing negative Covid-19 reports, he said.

The minister further said that a strict regulation will be introduced to rectify the loopholes in the BBMP and make sure such incidents are not repeated in the future.

Following a discussion with the officials, a decision will be taken in this regard, Sudhakar said.

"It is a dishonour to the medical profession to make money through immoral ways," he said.

The case has been taken seriously and will not be repeated in the future, he added.