Probe finds illegal accounts in Mumbai hospital to use pharma donations

MUMBAI: An inquiry has found that heads of 11 departments of J J Hospital’s Grant Medical College (GMC) opened and operated unauthorised bank accounts in the name of respective departments. A sum of Rs 6 crore was collected in these accounts and almost half of it was then used for expenses such as foreign trips without permission, said state medical education minister Girish Mahajan and added that strong action will be taken within one month against those found guilty.
Mahajan was responding to questions raised in the state assembly on Friday. The case dates back to 2018 when an RTI activist, Mayur Salvi, had sent a complaint to the state medical education secretary, leading to a probe in 2019.

In his written reply, Mahajan stated, “The heads of 11 departments from the J J Group of Hospitals have been asked to respond. After their reply, further action will be taken.”
He said an inquiry was conducted on 32 GMC departments and the unauthorised accounts were found in the name of 11 departments. “No permission was taken for opening the accounts, which is not allowed. The department heads opened and operated the accounts,” he said.
He said a sum of Rs 6 crore was collected in the accounts, of which Rs 2.7 crore had been spent. “The money included doctor’s fees, educational grants from private pharmaceutical companies and sponsorships,” said Mahajan.
“The money was used for foreign trips and buying tabs. The purchases were done without permission or tendering, which is the rule,” said Mahajan. He said the Rs 3.2 crore that remained would be sent to the state treasury.
The issue was raised in the assembly by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Prabhu. He alleged that department heads and other doctors had opened unauthorised accounts in the name of the department and deposited commission as well as the fees received from private practice. “On August 13, 2021, the director of medical education had issued a circular saying an inquiry should be conducted in 30 days. Why has nothing been done? Is the administration shielding the guilty,” he asked.