Jamui civil surgeon, 3 others suspended for Covid testing fraud

PATNA: Jamui civil surgeon and three others were suspended on Friday as chief minister Nitish Kumar promised action against all those found guilty in the Covid-19 testing fraud at some places in the state.
“I got information about the irregularities in Covid-19 testing while returning to Patna from Delhi. I immediately sought detailed information about the irregularities from the health department’s principal secretary.Inquiries in 22 districts are over and irregularities found in one district. Wherever irregularities were found action was taken,” Nitish told reporters at the Patna airport after returning from his three-day visit to Delhi.
“If anyone is found guilty of committing irregularities, tough action will be taken. If someone has not conducted Covid-19 test and has prepared the data, it is very wrong,” Nitish added.
State health minister Mangal Pandey said action has been taken against seven officials in Jamui district. While four officials have been suspended, three contract employees have been dismissed. Altogether 12 teams were formed by the department to investigate the case across the state.
Among those suspended is Jamui civil surgeon Dr Bijyendra Satyarthi. A suspension letter initiated by the health department joint secretary Anil Kumar on Friday read that after an investigation by Jamui DM, certain irregularities on the part of the civil surgeon in fudging Covid-19 test data was found and the DM had recommended strict action.
Others suspended include Jamui PHC medical officer in charge-cum-district immunization officer Dr Vimal Kumar Choudhary, Barhat PHC in charge Dr NK Mandal and Sikandra CHC in charge Dr Sajid Hussain.
The matter came to light after a media report on glaring errors in Covid-19 test data in Bihar’s three districts, where fake names, mobile numbers were entered.
The CM said he had asked the principal secretary to take the matter seriously and conduct a thorough inquiry. “Probably, a member raised the issue of the irregularities in Covid-19 testing in Rajya Sabha. The principal secretary informed me that a detailed report has been sent to the secretary of the Union ministry of health for placing the facts in the Upper House,” Nitish said.
Nitish was referring to RJD MP Manoj Jha, who had raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha on Friday and demanded a high-level inquiry. Even Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu also sought a probe.
Nitish further said, the state’s principal secretary also informed him that he was looking into all aspects of the alleged irregularities. “I will again take detailed information about the irregularities from the principal secretary, tomorrow,” he added.
“I had to meet the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, today. But his phone came this morning. We held a talk over the phone,” Nitish said, talking about his stay in Delhi.