A major malpractice scandal has rocked a state-run hospital in Kolhapur, where a high-level inquiry has found two dozen doctors guilty of illegally referring patients to private laboratories for blood tests. This unethical practice was happening despite the hospital having its own fully functional, round-the-clock central laboratory on the premises.
Inquiry Panel Uncovers Widespread Malpractice
A five-member committee of senior doctors from the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Government Medical College conducted a detailed investigation into the gynaecology and obstetrics department of the Chhatrapati Pramila Raje Hospital. The panel found 24 doctors guilty of directing patients' blood samples to external private labs. The indicted medical staff includes professors, assistant professors, and senior and junior resident doctors.
The inquiry was initiated after hospital seniors received multiple complaints about rampant "cut practice"—a term for kickbacks—being followed by doctors. It was alleged that agents from private laboratories would wait outside the hospital's Outpatient Department (OPD) to solicit business. These private facilities charged patients anywhere between Rs 2,000 and Rs 7,000 for tests that could have been done in-house at a significantly lower cost.
Doctors' Excuses Debunked by Facts
In their written defense submitted to the inquiry panel, the accused doctors claimed they referred samples to private labs only during emergencies or when specific test kits were unavailable at the hospital's central lab. However, the committee's verification with laboratory officials revealed a different story.
The hospital's central laboratory has all necessary testing facilities and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The panel confirmed that there was no legitimate reason for the referrals. The tests for which pregnant women were sent out included:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- HIV Test
- Liver Function Test
- Renal/Kidney Function Test
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Test
All these are routinely available at the hospital's own lab.
Victims and Consequences: Awaiting Action from Higher Authorities
The investigation identified that 22 pregnant women, most from economically weaker sections, were referred to these expensive private labs. This is particularly egregious as such beneficiaries are entitled to nearly free deliveries, free medicines, and heavily subsidized lab tests at the government facility.
Dean of the medical college, Sadanand Bhise, informed the Times of India that memos were issued and warnings were given to the concerned doctors after the incidents came to light. "Most of the required blood tests are carried out in our central laboratory; there is no need at all to refer patients to private labs," he stated. The college administration has forwarded the panel's findings to the state health authorities, who will now decide on the final disciplinary action against the guilty doctors.
Activist Rupesh Patil, who helped expose the malpractices, demanded a thorough cleanup. "We wanted to bring an end to the practice being followed in the department. We expect a similar investigation in other departments where blood tests are requested. Also, we now expect action against the guilty doctors," he said. The case has highlighted a systemic issue of kickbacks and raised serious questions about ethical medical practices in public healthcare.
