Lucknow: King George's Medical University (KGMU) is set to file an FIR against four employees following a probe that uncovered alleged irregularities worth approximately Rs 2.5 crore in the procurement of medicines under the Asadhya Yojana. This scheme provides free treatment to poor patients suffering from chronic diseases.
A five-member inquiry committee identified irregularities in the urology department and recommended action against one regular pharmacist and three contractual employees. KGMU spokesperson Prof KK Singh confirmed that the FIR will be registered on Tuesday.
The issue came to light after officials noticed a sharp increase in medicine expenditure, which rose from Rs 10 lakh per month to Rs 40 lakh in February and Rs 45 lakh in March. This triggered an audit that revealed discrepancies. KGMU subsequently stopped payments for the medicines under scrutiny and formed a committee on the directions of Vice-Chancellor Prof Soniya Nityanand.
The committee examined patient records, distribution registers, and payment data. It found that medicines were shown as consumed beyond the prescribed dosage. In several cases, an injectable drug intended to be administered once every six months was recorded as given four to five times in a month, with each injection costing between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000.
Additionally, the probe revealed instances where medicines were shown as administered without the patient being admitted, raising suspicions of misuse of government funds. The inquiry also flagged violations of drug management procedures. A contractual employee handled the ordering and receipt of medicines, contravening the rule that assigns authorized nursing staff to perform this task.
The committee suspects that these medicines may have been diverted and is investigating their disposal. It recommended criminal proceedings against the four employees involved.
