CMO orders probe into GCS registration

Order comes after ex-employee alleges irregularities; claims hospital did not have BU permit, fire NOC, GPCB licence at the time of opening

The Chief Minister’s office has ordered an inquiry into the registration of the Gujarat Cancer Society (GCS) Hospital and Medical College in Ahmedabad after a former employee alleged irregularity in the process. According to the employee, when he brought the matter to the attention of the higher authorities at the hospital, instead of looking into the matter, the hospital terminated his duty.

“GCS hospital and College was started in 2011. But at that time, it did not have the licence from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, certificate of bio-medical waste or even the no-objection certificate for fire safety. Hence, it had not got the building use permission. It also did not have a sewage treatment plant either,” said Yuvrajsinh Rathod, resident of Bapunagar. Rathod had joined the hospital as an executive in the casualty section of the hospital’s administration department in 2012.

“When I informed the higher authorities about the irregularities, instead of carrying out an inquiry, they made false allegations against me and removed me from the job in May 2018,” said Rathod. He claimed that he then decided to expose irregularities at the hospital. “I had complained to AMC and GPCB in this regard. But no inquiry was made. The hospital finally got a fire safety NOC in 2014 and the BU permission in 2017,” he added.



‘Hospital refused to give information under RTI’

Rathod claimed that when he sought information under RTI Act, the hospital refused, citing that it was a private entity and hence did not fall under the purview of the Act. “The government gave land worth crores to GCS hospital on 99-year lease at a token rent of Rs 1. I had made an RTI application to AMC, through which I got to know that crores of rupees as transfer fee had been waived off by the government for the hospital’s development. Also, the hospital website says it has been established under public-private partnership. Thus, it comes under the purview of RTI,” said Rathod.

“Frustrated, I complained to the chief minister’s office, Governor, Health department and vigilance department. Following my complaint to the CMO office on September 16 this year, orders were given to the chief secretary of health and welfare department and additional principal secretary of urban development and urban housing department to inquire into registration of GCS Hospital and College and submit a report,” said Rathod. Mirror is in possession of copy of the CMO’s order.

Neha Lal, general manager, GCS Hospital and Medical College, said, “We have not received any letter from the CM’s office.” Asked why approval for the hospital was taken after 2014-15, she said, “I don't know. That is for the municipal corporation to see. But we have been paying all taxes now we have all the required licences.”