Allegations of bribery emerge in health dept for KPME certification

BENGALURU: Suspicions have been raised regarding widespread corruption in the Health Department, particularly in Bengaluru. Officials are allegedly demanding bribes from clinics, medical establishments and hospitals for registration and inspection purposes under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act despite online registration being available.

A specific case involves Dr Ramesh, District Tuberculosis Officer, who allegedly demanded Rs 25,000 and later settled for Rs 15,000 from a woman doctor for approving her KPME registration.

Another incident involves a doctor who filed an online registration for an Ayurvedic Health Centre in Talaghattapura and was asked to pay Rs 15,000 by Dr Ramesh during a site inspection.

The Lokayukta police have registered complaints and started investigations. An audio recording of the alleged bribery demand with a woman doctor has been submitted to the Lokayukta police, who will further investigate and potentially involve the Economic Offences Wing.

The Health Department’s response to these allegations remains to be seen. Not just the DTO, there are also allegations of bribery against district health officers.

Dr Sunil, president of the doctors’ association, noted that all qualified doctors should get KPME certification to establish medical establishments or clinics. “After the application is submitted, the DTO, THO and DAO should come to the site inspection. For that, they are demanding Rs 50,000 for small clinics, Rs 70,000 for polyclinics, Rs 1 lakh for nursing homes and Rs 2 lakh for hospital visits. An FIR has been filed against DTO, but no action has been taken against him. This is not the story of one DTO or DHO. Many other doctors have complained to me about the same. The evil of bribery spread across the state”, he told Public TV.