Misappropriation of users’ fee in Capital Hospital

BHUBANESWAR: Capital Hospital, one of the oldest hospitals of the city, which is providing health service to the residents of the city and its nearby areas from 1954, has been remained in the focal point of discussion due to various reasons. Now the hospital is in the point of discussion for misusing of users’ fee collected from the patients. Audit report clearly stated that the hospital has failed to follow the guidelines during any cash transaction and maintaining of its records and cash books properly.

According to the RTI information, the hospital has collected Rs 9, 91, 07,285 as users’ fee from 1997 to October 2012 and Rs 88, 25, 942 has sanctioned from the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) fund from 2010. Out of the total Rs 10, 79, 33,227, the hospital has spent Rs 8, 18, 92,715 and the rest of the money is in the hospital’s account. The money was not being used for the poor patients, but in the ambulance services for VIPs and other means. In 2004-06, the ambulances were used in the duty of VIPs and for which reason Rs 36, 462 have been paid from the users’ fee which is illegal.    

The audit report said the cashbook used for collection of user charges of the hospital has not been maintained properly, cuttings and over writings has been made in all most all cases. Physical verification of cash balance at the end of each month as well as at the end of the year has not been conducted by the authority in-charge or by the head of the institution at all, said the report and added that surprise verification of cash balance at the end of a days collection or month or even at the end of the year has not been taken as per the provision.

The audit report pointed out about the irregular and excess payment of money from the users’ fee. The hospital authorities had submitted Xerox copies of different bills instead of showing the original during the audit which spontaneously raises question over the use of money by the hospital authorities.

The audit report questioned over the irregular payment of Rs 1, 64,409 towards security services engagement in the hospital and misappropriation of users’ money to the tune of 94, 149 during 2002. The amount collected as users’ fees are kept in hand by the cashier for days together without depositing it in the passbook, the report added. The audit report of 2001-02 revealed that irregularities to the tune of Rs 15, 30, 385, while the 2005-06 audit report had detected the irregularities to the extent of Rs 16, 46, 620.

At the time of physical verification of cash on May 31, 2005, it revealed that a sum of Rs 1, 12, 63,486 is lying in the closing balance of cash book where as an amount of Rs 1,11,40,835 was kept in the bank account. As a result of which Rs 1, 22,649 differ between cash book figure and bank passbook figure, the report revealed.

The 2010 audit report has exposed the discrepancy between cashbook and Bank Passbook. As per the cashbook, the bank balance as on March 31, 2008 was Rs 1, 64, 25,133, but as per the passbook the balance was Rs 68, 23,204. It shows the seriousness of the hospital authorities in managing the users’ fee fund.

Apart from that the hospital authorities has violated the guidelines by paying excess money to a particular organisation without going trough tender process. They have also paid excess money to some organisations without following any circular or direction notice, the report added.       

According to the Bhubaneswar Bikash Manch general secretary Ganesh Das, the Chief Medical Officers and other administrative officers of the hospital are involved in the multi-crore users’ fee scam. The hospital authorities recently denied a freedom fighter for medication, misbehaved Pipili girl Bebina and a filaria patient without paying attention of their health condition, but how they misused the users’ money to appease VIPs and some organisations dealing with the hospital, questioned Das.

Das also said the Health Department is not doing anything to bring the truth before the public or failed to punish the real culprits who were involved in the multi-crore scam. “If BJD Government is very transparent, why it is delaying to order a high-level probe,” he said.

On the other hand, Capital Hospital CMO Sudarshan Das said they are looking into the matter deeply and the truth would come out very soon. “I joined the hospital as CMO only a few months ago, anyway we will look into the matter,” Das said.