GMC&AH orders probe in bribe for body scam

Authorities at Government Medical College and Associated Hospitals, Jammu have ordered an enquiry into the allegations of hospital staff members extorting money from family members of COVID19 deceased.

Taking cognizance of the reports doing rounds in the media wherein mortuary staff was accused of extorting money from the family members of COVID19 deceased, Dr Shashi Sudhan Sharma, Principal and Dean, GMC Jammu, in an order dated 4^th December 2020, constituted a committee headed by Administrator GMC&AH Jammu to enquire into the matter.

The order reads, “Since a video of mortuary went viral on social media on 3^rd December 2020, for which a laxity has been seen on the part of staff on duty in mortuary. In this context, a committee is hereby constituted to enquire into the matter and shall submit its report to the office of the undersigned within two days positively for further course of action.”

“During the investigation, it was found that one of the staffer at GMC Bakshi Nagar has been illegally operating two personal vehicles as ambulances,” says a hospital official.

As per the official document, dated 4^th December 2020, accessed by The News Now, “One of the GMC officials, Shinda Mashi, a Sanitary Supervisor, is operating two ‘Maruti ECO’ vehicles bearing registration numbers JK02AS-1138 and JK20-1749 as ambulances. The vehicles are owned by his sons, namely, Aman Kumar and Virinder.”

Following this revelation, the Regional Transport Officer Jammu was requested to intimate the status of the vehicles and whether any permission has been granted for operating them as ambulances in GMC premises.

“In his reply to the hospital authorities on 7^th December 2020, RTO Jammu confirmed that the aforesaid vehicles are personal (non-commercial) and haven’t been allowed to be operated as ambulances. That is, it is a case of illegal modification of vehicles and operation as ambulances, which calls for action under Motor Vehicles Act,” says the official.

With a Police Post inside GMC premises supervised by SDPO Bakshi Nagar and SP North, falling under the Police Station Bakshi Nagar, it remains to be seen when and what action does the Transport Department and Traffic Police take against the offender(s), and set things right, once and for all.

Pertinent to mention here that certain media reports had highlighted the alleged mishandling of a deceased COVID patient by hospital staff – particularly ambulance drivers and mortuary staff, in addition to demanding of ‘payment’ from family members for packing and transporting the body.

Also: Read my article at The News Now

GMC& AH to probe involvement hospital staff in money extortion

Published in The News Now on 9th December, 2020