M.P. panel to probe AYUSH doctors practising allopathy

Report to be submitted in a month; State hasn’t permitted AYUSH practitioners to prescribe modern drugs

27/09/2019 , Sidharth Yadav, Bhopal

The Madhya Pradesh government has constituted a team to look into AYUSH doctors taking up modern medicine and prescribing allopathic drugs at private hospitals.

“The services of AYUSH doctors are being used for night duty at most of the hospitals in the private sector,” reads an order dated September 13 on the constitution of the team. “In reality what is going on, the department has no information regarding this.”

According to the rules, says the order, ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy (AYUSH) doctors can’t prescribe allopathic drugs.

Though allopathy hospitals can employ AYUSH doctors, they cannot be allowed to prescribe drugs, State AYUSH Department Additional Chief Secretary Shikha Dubey told The Hindu. “At present, we don’t know how many such doctors are there, and for how long have they been prescribing allopathic drugs. The team will submit a report within a month,” she said.

Unlike many States, Madhya Pradesh hasn’t yet permitted AYUSH doctors to practice modern medicine, but they could prescribe 72 drugs at integrated dispensaries in rural areas, only after passing a six-month course.

States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand have allowed the practice dwelling upon Rule 2 (ee) (iii) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, after the Supreme Court in the 1987 case of Dr. Mukhtiar Chand allowed it by the means of State orders.

“You could have called it negligence if it was by an allopathy doctor. This is clear fraud; it is criminal,” said Anand Rai, who last year exposed several AYUSH doctors at private hospitals in Indore deputed at intensive care units to attend to emergency cases and perform surgeries. “At private hospitals, patients are fleeced on an hourly basis. Just to make more money, they employ AYUSH doctors,” said Dr. Rai, the Vyapam scam whistle-blower. “How do you expect someone practising herbal medicine to perform complicated procedures on patients?”

Santanu Sen, Indian Medical Association national president, said it was in principle against allowing the practice and Section 32 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which “promoted quackery”.

When told many IMA-affiliated hospitals had employed AYUSH doctors in the past, Dr. Sen clarified: “We are an organisation of around four lakh doctors. If anyone violates the IMA’s stand, that’s just an individual agenda.”

Highlighting lack of AYUSH infrastructure, Ramavtar Chaudhary, national general secretary, AYUSH Medical Association said, “The government, whose institutions are allopathy-centric, pushes our doctors to take it up just to show it meets the WHO doctor-population ratio.”

Still, there is one doctor for 16,996 people in Madhya Pradesh, according to the National Health Profile 2018, against the World Health Organization’s prescribed ratio of 1 for 1,000. The NITI Aayog in May had said the country was expected to reach the norm by 2024.

Impersonation case: Theni medico, his father remanded 

Staff Reporter THENI 

THENI, September 27, 2019 00:00 IST 

Inquiries held with dean, vice-principal of college in question

Udit Surya K.V., 21, a student of Theni Government Medical College accused of impersonation during NEET, and his father Venkatesan, were remanded in judicial custody on Thursday.

The CB-CID police, who secured Udit Surya and his parents at Tirupati on Wednesday, brought them here on Thursday amidst tight security.

After a day-long inquiry, Udit Surya and his father Dr. Venkatesan were produced before the Judicial Magistrate N. Panneerselvam at the combined District Court complex. They were lodged in the Theni district jail.

CB-CID Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar, DSP Godwin Jagadeesh Kumar and the team also inspected the campus of the Medical College, including the exam hall and the Dean’s chamber.

Sources in the college said that an inquiry was also conducted with the Dean and the Vice Principal and among other faculty members.

Earlier, the College Dean filed a complaint with the Gandamanur Vilakku police based on two mails received from a man in Chennai on September 11 and 13, alleging that Udit Surya had secured admission in the college through impersonation in the NEET exam.

On September 18, the police booked Udit Surya under three Sections of the IPC for criminal conspiracy, impersonation and cheating.

A preliminary investigation was undertaken by the special team of police. Subsequently, the case was transferred to the CB-CID.

After a day-long inquiry, they were produced before a Magistrate and lodged in Theni district jail

Govt. tightens norms to crack the whip on corrupt officials 

Dennis S. Jesudasan 

CHENNAI, September 27, 2019 00:00 IST 

The options available with the disciplinary authorities to deal with such cases have been narrowed down

If a government servant is found possessing assets disproportionate to his/her known sources of income, or is found accepting a bribe, it is now almost certain that he/she will either be removed or dismissed from service. The State government recently amended the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules to this effect.

Earlier, government servants found to be corrupt or to have received a bribe could face a penalty or be placed under suspension or sent on compulsory retirement, as decided by the disciplinary authority, as these were the other options available besides removal or dismissal from service.

"Earlier, the disciplinary authority could choose not to remove or dismiss the corrupt employee from service. Now, the options have been narrowed down," official sources explained.

However, in exceptional cases, a penalty could be imposed.

Through an amendment by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, notified recently, the Tamil Nadu government has made changes to the existing rules, in line with the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Exceptional cases

Explaining the grounds for exceptional cases, officials said that if a worker had not demanded a bribe and had only accepted it, and if it turned out to be a paltry amount, the disciplinary authority could consider this an exceptional case.

While employees who were ‘removed’ from service could apply for government jobs again, those who were ‘dismissed’ from service cannot.

The severe action of removal or dismissal from service will also apply if the charge of acceptance of any gratification (by the government servant) other than legal remuneration as a motive or reward for doing or forbearing to do any official act is proved.

Even when the charge of giving an undue advantage with an intention to induce a public servant to perform or not to perform a public duty or to reward the public servant for the performance or non-performance of a public duty is proved, the government servant will either be removed or dismissed from service.

PSG medical students’ records are genuine, says DME 

Special Correspondent 

CHENNAI, September 27, 2019 00:00 IST

College had raised doubts over their NEET photographs

The two medical students from Coimbatore-based PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (PSGIMSR), whose application details were forwarded by the institute, after some doubts were raised, are genuine, said Director of Medical Education R. Narayana Babu.

The students, a male and a female, were called for verification to the city from Coimbatore on Thursday after the institute’s Dean S. Ramalingam wrote to the DME and the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University that the photographs of the students did not match with what they had provided to the National Testing Agency for hall tickets.

Dr. Narayana Babu said the girl had told the selection committee officials during the inquiry that she had undergone a slimming programme and she had provided a recent photo to the college.

“The boy appears like a school student in one and then a college student in the other,” he said. The boy claimed he had submitted an old photograph, he added.

“They are supposed to give a photo taken recently. Students provide different photos in each of these occasions,” he said.

Both students had cooperated during the inquiry and had come with their parents. They provided all the documents, proof of identity and proof of residence too, he added.

University Vice-Chancellor Sudha Seshayyan said she had received a letter from the PSGIMSR, stating that there was a possible mismatch in the photographs of two candidates between their NEET admit cards, and allotment orders given by the Selection Committee. “I have asked the Selection Committee about this,” she said.

With regard to other medical institutions in the State, she said that AYUSH and dental colleges had said there were no mismatches among their candidates, and most medical colleges too, had not reported any such mismatches. “Reports from one or two colleges are yet to come in,” she said.

College authorities, however, said they would await a written response from the DME regarding the issue.

They are supposed to give a photo  taken recently. Students provide different photos for different occasionsR. Narayana BabuDME

UP: BJP leader’s daughter found dead at her college campus, police hint at suicide

Vandana Shukla, a second-year MD student at Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, was the daughter of senior BJP leader K K Shukla.

By Express News Service |Lucknow |Updated: September 25, 2019 2:40:08 pm

Vandana was pursuing her post graduate degree in pathology.

A 27-year-old junior doctor, who was a second-year MD student at Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences in Saifai of Etawah district, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her hostel room on the campus Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Vandana Shukla, daughter of senior BJP leader K K Shukla.
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While no suicide note was found, the police suspect it is a case of suicide. The postmortem report of the woman, who hailed from Ghaziabad, confirmed ante-mortem hanging as the cause of death.

“In the early hours of Tuesday, some doctors went to Vandana’s allotted room o take her along to the hospital. They knocked on the door but there was no response. They then spotted her hanging from a ceiling fan. They informed the hospital authorities, who in turn alerted the police. A police team, along with the university authorities, reached the room on the university’s new campus. We broke into the room to find woman’s body hanging from the ceiling fan on a scarf. The body was sent for postmortem and her family was informed,” said Sub-Inspector Akhilesh Kumar, the officiating in-charge of Saifai police station.

“We did not find any suicide note in the room and the reason behind her taking the extreme step is yet to be ascertained. Her batchmates and her family are unable to tell us anything that can be suspected to be a possible reason. The university administration has told us that she had regularly attending her classes. The postmortem report has ruled out the possibility of foul play and confirmed ante-mortem hanging as the cause of death,” he added.
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University spokesperson Anil Kumar Pandey said Vandana was pursuing her post graduate degree in pathology. “Though we are yet to talk to more people, a few of her friends informed us that she was last seen on Sunday and chose to stay in her room on Monday. The police are looking into the matter,” said Pandey.

Vandana had done her MBBS from a medical college in Hapur. Her father, K K Shukla, has in the past served in several important posts in the BJP, including its western UP media in-charge and election in-charge of Meerut district, said Ghaziabad BJP district president Maansingh Goswami.

Madras high court seeks details of all admissions made in medical colleges

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedSep 26, 2019, 2:52 am IST

The bench said it was seen from the public domain that certain malpractices have been committed for getting admission in the medical college.

Madras high court.

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the state government to furnish the list of candidates admitted under the NRI quota with their respective marks, the list of candidates admitted under the state quota with their respective marks and the list of candidates admitted under the AII India quota with their respective marks in medical colleges.

A division bench comprising Justices N.Kirubakaran and P.Velmurugan gave the directive and posted to today (Sept 26) further hearing of a petition filed by S.Dheeran, an aspiring medical student seeking to set aside an order of a single judge, dismissing a petition challenging the selection process for the 207 seats that got reverted to the management quota owing to their not getting filled up under the NRI quota.

The bench said M.Velmurugan, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that 260 seats were earmarked under the NRI quota, out of which only 53 persons were selected for admission and the balance 207 seats were declared as vacant and reverted to the management should also be filled up as per merit.

As per the judgment of the Apex court in Dar-Us-Slam case, the state government shall conduct manual counselling for allotment of students and after the completion of counselling, the state government shall determine the number of seats that were still vacant and thereafter shall forward a list of students in order of merit, equalling to ten times the number of vacant seats to the medical college so that in case of any stray vacancy arising in any college the seats may be filled up from the list.

However, in the state of Tamil Nadu, 207 seats under the NRI quota remained vacant and without conducting manual counselling for those seats, the state government returned it to the management and the managements were said to have filled up those seats allegedly without following merit by getting huge sums for those seats. Though the government pleader appearing for the state denied the allegation made by the counsel for the appellant, the contentions made by the counsel for appellant cannot be ignored and “this court would like to know whether the appropriate procedures have been followed in the selection of candidates for admission into the medical colleges,” the bench added and gave the direction.

The bench said it was seen from the public domain that certain malpractices have been committed for getting admission in the medical college. It was said that one candidate got admission in the Theni Medical College by making another student to write the NEET examination by impersonation and a case was said to have been registered against the student candidate, the bench added and posed 7 queries to be answered by the state government in the next hearing.

The queries are: 1) How many persons are said to have obtained admission in medical colleges by impersonation? 2) Whether the authorities have verified the identity of those candidates who wrote the NEET examination and those who got admitted in the medical colleges? 3) Whether any other cases of impersonation or cheating have been detected? 4) What is the stage of the case filed against the student of Theni Medical College who is alleged to have obtained admission fraudulently by impersonation? 5) Is it a fact that the Principal of Theni Medical College has not taken any action in time, in spite of knowing about the fraudulent admission obtained by the student? 6) Whether all the statutory procedures have been duly followed by the authorities, right from permitting the students for examination after verifying the identity of the students and 7) Whether the authorities have identified any other fraudulent methods like dual nativity certificate by which medical admission have been obtained by any other student?

NRI quota medical seats being sold? HC issues directives for TN govt

...Inquires if appropriate procedures had been followed in the selection of candidates

Published: 26th September 2019 05:30 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: OBSERVING allegation that managements of private medical colleges in the State have filled up NRI quota without following merits by getting huge sums for those seats, a division bench of the Madras High Court has issued a set of directives to the State government.

They included calling for the list of candidates admitted under the NRI, State and all India quotas with their respective marks (category wise viz., OC, BC, MBC etc). The reply shall be submitted on September 26.

Originally, one S Dheeran of Coimbatore approached the court for a direction to the State, to undertake the necessary and proper counselling and mop-up procedure to fill up 207 seats that had become available owing to non-filling of NRI quota, as per merit and prescribed procedure. And the plea was rejected by a single judge. Hence, the present appeal.

The appellant’s counsel told the bench of Justices, N Kirubakaran and P Velmurugan, that as per clause 11 of the prospectus issued by the selection committee, unfilled NRI quota seats in the first round of counselling should be filled up only from the NRI candidates through manual counselling and they should not have been reverted back to the management quota. About 260 seats were earmarked under the NRI quota, of which only 53 were filled up.

As per the judgement of the Apex Court, the State government should have conducted manual counselling for allotment of students and after the completion of counselling, it should determine the number of seats that were still vacant and thereafter, forward a list of students in the order of merit, equalling to ten times the number of vacant seats to the medical college. However, the 207 seats under the NRI quota remained vacant and without conducting manual counselling for those seats, the State returned it to the managements, which had filled up them allegedly, without following merits by getting huge sums.

Answers sought

The judges noted that a candidate had obtained admission in a medical college by impersonation. “Therefore, the following queries are raised to be answered by the State in the next hearing,” the judges said.

How many obtained admission in medical colleges by impersonation? 

Whether authorities verified identity of those who wrote NEET and those who got admission

Whether any
other case of impersonation 

or cheating had
been detected 

What is the stage of the case filed against the Theni college student
Is it a fact that the Principal of Theni Medical College had not taken any action in time in spite of knowing about the fraudulent admission