In a recent turn of events in eastern Uttar Pradesh, a pharmacist at the Jagdaur Community Health Centre (CHC) has been dismissed from his job after being accused of overcharging patients. The incident came to light following an unexpected inspection by local BJP MLA Prem Sagar Patel on Monday.
The Inspection
MLA Prem Sagar Patel conducted a surprise visit to the Jagdaur CHC after receiving several complaints from the public about irregularities at the facility. During his inspection, Mr. Patel found that patients were being charged Rs 2 for prescriptions, while the official fee was only Re 1.
The surprise inspection was captured in videos that have since circulated on social media. In these videos, Mr. Patel can be seen interacting with patients and their families, addressing their grievances. Some of the issues highlighted included delays in receiving government aid for childbirth, the absence of female doctors during night shifts, and the practice of prescribing medicines from external medical stores.
Reaction and Action
The BJP MLA expressed his frustration, questioning the pharmacist, “How dare you charge one rupee more from the poor patients?” The overcharging incident drew significant attention and led to swift action.
District Health Department officials confirmed later in the day that the pharmacist involved, identified as Sanjay, was a contractual employee hired through a third-party agency. Additional Chief Medical Officer Rajendra Prasad confirmed that Sanjay’s services had been terminated due to the overcharging allegations.
In one of the videos, Mr. Patel emphasized his understanding of the challenges faced by the poor, saying, “I hail from a village and know what poverty and helplessness feel like. So there is no need for you to explain to me what was going on. I know it.”
Conclusion
This incident highlights the importance of maintaining transparency and adherence to official rates in public health services. The prompt action taken against the overcharging pharmacist underscores the commitment to ensuring fair treatment for patients at government health facilities.
