Hospital in Uttarakhand issues 'fake' COVID-free certificates, govt to probe allegations

The administration of Uttarakhand government was forced to launch an enquiry on Wednesday after a government hospital had allegedly issues OPD slips to people, certifying that they had no symptoms of COVID-19, without conducting an RT-PCR test.

Majority of these certificates were issued to migrant workers,who wanted to go to other districts in search of work, violating the guidelines laid down by the Indian Council of Medical Research. 

The first case, which came into light was at SPS Government Hospital,Rishikesh where a doctor was found doing it for money.  The hospital had also produced a sample of one such slip that was issued by the doctor. 

When contacted Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Om Prakash on Wednesday said a detailed enquiry is being ordered into the matter.

The probe will seek to find out for how long the racket was going on at the hospital and how many doctors were involved in it,  added the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand. 

As per the guidelines of the Centre and the Indian Council of Medical Research an RT-PCR test alone can certify whether or not a person is suffering from COVID-19,said Chief Medical Superintendent NS Tomar.

No other document has any legal validity in this matter, added Tomar. 

(Image Credits:PTI)