SCB doc held for favouring pharma firms

CUTTACK: Assistant Professor, Clinical Hematology Department, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sudha Sethy has been arrested by the Vigilance officials on Wednesday for her involvement in misusing official position and showing undue official favour to different pharmaceutical companies.

She used to prescribe high cost drugs pushed by pharmaceutical companies to the poor patients, getting financial assistance for treatment under Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF), in connivance with HoD Prof Rabindra Kumar Jena. A case has already been filed against Prof Jena and investigation is on.

According to a release issued by Office of Director, Vigilance, Jena and Sethy were obtaining pecuniary advantages from pharmaceutical companies for foreign tours and accommodation abroad, even for those trips for which the Government has sanctioned money.

The inquiry further revealed that Dr Jena and Dr Sudha Sethy, who is also the Nodal Officer of OSTF, in furtherance of their common intention and in conspiracy with a pharmaceutical company had been indulging in sending the application forms of the patients with estimate for expenditure, mentioning therein the generic/molecular name of the medicines prescribed instead of writing the specific name of the medicine, which were available in the central store of SCBMCH, thereby causing huge loss to government exchequer and hardship to the poor patients availing OSTF benefit.

Dr. Sethy, who was arrested basing on the prima facie evidence, was produced before the Special Judge, Vigilance here and has been remanded to judicial custody till December 26 after her bail petition was rejected.

Steps are being taken to trace and arrest the main accused Dr Rabindra Kumar Jena who has been evading Vigilance inquiry, the release said.