Ambulance driver, private hospital booked for shifting patient from govt facility for 'commission'

Meerut: A case was registered against a private hospital and an ambulance driver for allegedly taking a paralysed patient out of a state-run medical college and moving him to a private facility in return for a commission, officials said on Thursday.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ashok Kataria told PTI that Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Ghaziabad, was admitted to Meerut Medical College on November 15.

On November 16, an ambulance driver named Tushar allegedly convinced the family to transfer the patient to Alpha Hospital in Mangalpande Nagar for Rs 25,000, promising better treatment.

The family, after spending over Rs 90,000 with no significant improvement in the patient's health, filed a complaint on Wednesday, Kataria said.

Acting on the complaint, Deputy CMO launched a probe, in which he confirmed that Mukesh was admitted to the Alpha Hospital, with the ambulance driver's name and contact recorded in the hospital register, the official said, adding that the management failed to provide a clear explanation for admitting the patient from the government facility.

Following the investigation, the pending hospital bill was waived and the patient was referred back to the medical college, the official said.

The Deputy CMO submitted the report to the Meerut commissioner, district magistrate, senior superintendent of police, and the CMO office, officials said.

Based on the findings, Medical College police station has registered a case against Alpha Hospital and the ambulance driver, and legal proceedings are underway, the CMO said.