Kolkata: Bengal health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee said on Tuesday a report has been prepared on what he termed was “rampant corruption” in the Swasthya Sathi scheme.Indicating the need to investigate the “scam” by an independent agency, Mukherjee said the report would be submitted to CM Suvendu Adhikari. There was the possibility of some health department officials being involved in the corruption, he added.A few days ago, Mukherjee had stated that fake Swasthya Sathi claims were being unearthed and the scam ran into a few crores.On Tuesday, the health minister said the “roots of the financial irregularities that have come to light over the last 10 years run very deep”. “I am in favor of handing over the responsibility to an independent investigative agency to examine how far-reaching these roots are,” he said.According to sources, authorities of multiple private hospitals and nursing homes have submitted written complaints to Mukherjee on Swasthya Sathi irregularities. Accusations have also emerged against a medical officer for taking a nursing home on lease in the names of relatives and raising fake Swasthya Sathi bills.The investigation has uncovered incidents of bills being generated even in the name of dead patients. Sources said two years after a patient’s death, bills for readmission, surgery and treatment were submitted again in that patient’s name. After approval from the insurance company, the hospital also received the money.Mukherjee said a section of people ranging from insurance companies and department officials to doctors and even family members of patients could be involved in this syndicate.
