Ambala health team visits Bhogpur scanning centre again, seizes records

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 24

While a team of health officials from Ambala has been raising grave concerns on the working of the health authorities in the city, a follow-up action on the Bhogpur-based scanning centre today – jointly carried out by health teams in Jalandhar and Ambala – also remained mired in controversy with the Ambala team alleging the procedure had been greatly compromised.

Dr Arvinderjeet Singh MO, Ambala, who was part of the team from Ambala which visited the city today, said the first raid was compromised due to delayed action and serious lapses in the procedure conducted on September 11.

He said it could be possible that the doctor would soon go scot-free.

A report tabled by the the DC Office, Jalandhar, on Monday, found serious negligence on the part of Jalandhar Civil Surgeon (CS) Jaspreet Kaur and Family Planning Officer Gurmeet Kaur in the conduct of their duties, as per the PC and the PNDT Act.

Ironically, despite an FIR being lodged against him at Ambala and a criminal case in Jalandhar, Dr HS Kang, who owns the scanning centre, was also present during the search and seizure action carried out at the centre.

After a meeting of the district health authorities, the Jalandhar and Ambala health teams visited the Bagha Scanning Centre at Bhogpur and opened the locks of the three rooms which had been found locked on September 11. Nine registers as well as a scanning machine were seized by the Ambala team. These have been taken to Ambala.

While three rooms of the centre were unlocked today, the CS says one was closed, another had the scanning machine and a third had some routine medicines. The room also had the medicine ‘misoprostol’ (which is used to induce an abortion) which the Civil Surgeon said was normal.

Ambala doc sees red

Dr Arvinderjeet Singh said: “There is a sentiment within our team that we had to clean someone else’s house.” He alleged, “Right from the first day, I doubted the way the local authorities had cooperated with the Ambala team. Secondly, the duration of the sealing was long extended and the style of sealing was also compromised. It is highly possible that the whole episode was compromised. I am of the opinion that the doctor will go scot-free. The teams reached the centre with a considerable delay and the records were also not seized on the first day.”

He said: “Though we have collected a machine from the centre, we doubt it might have been already compromised. The local authorities have also behaved in the same way today as on that day. They are still adamant that the steps taken by them were right.”

While an FIR was lodged against the doctor in Ambala, sources said the doctor had secured bail.

No violation, says Civil Surgeon

On asked whether there was any violation at the centre, the Civil Surgeon Jaspreet Kaur Sekhon said, “None. Everything was in order and normal.”

“We carried out an operation at the centre and examined records today. Nine registers of the centre and records of two patients were taken by the Harayna teams. They also took the scanning machine. Two scans conducted on that day and the rest of the record is being checked and a report will be prepared within a couple of days.”

She said “There were no sex determination tests conducted at the centre as per the available records. As far as abortions are concerned, the said doctor is a MD gynae. He is certified to conduct abortions. He is registered as per his degree. There is no evidence of any shady activity. Everything is normal.”

Action to be initiated against medical officer

Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Satish Chandra said: “We have seen the report of the DC. Some serious allegations have been made against the Civil Surgeon and action will certainly be taken. She will be called in for questioning. But the formal decision will be taken by the Health Minister within a few days.”

Health Minister Brahm Mohindra could not be contacted despite repeated efforts.

On the lack of arrest of the doctor despite his presence at the centre, the Additional Chief Secretary said, “The doctor will be eventually caught.”

While the health teams had served the notice on the owner of the scanning centre on September 12, he had been asked to answer within a week. While the doctor did not reply to the authorities nor was arrested despite the criminal proceedings launched against him. He was called by the CS office this morning and asked to be present during the search procedure at the centre – to which he complied with. He participated in the action today in the presence of health teams as well as investigating officer from Ambala and the Bhogpur Station House officer (SHO). 

He did not even present himself before the authorities concerned for the past many days.

The CS said the doctor had also written to the health authorities on September 14, saying he had gone for lunch (when the 11 September raid happened) and due to a death of a relative he had to proceed there so could not make it for the raid at the centre. 

While the health authorities said they did not find the answer satisfactory, the CS launched a case against the doctor in the court.