‘Ghost Patients’ Scandal Unveiled: Delhi’s Mohalla Clinics Face Allegations of Massive Test Manipulation
Subtitle: Anti-Corruption Branch Reveals 65,000 Fake Tests Conducted by Private Labs(‘Ghost Patients’)
Date: [03/02/2024]
In a shocking revelation, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government has brought to light a massive scandal involving alleged manipulation of pathological tests at the city’s Mohalla Clinics. According to the ACB’s preliminary inquiry, two private labs associated with the clinics conducted nearly 22 lakh tests between February and December 2023, with a staggering 65,000 tests identified as fake.
The labs, which were paid Rs 4.63 crore by the government for the purported tests, now face serious scrutiny as authorities delve into the extent of the fraudulent activities. Last month, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the irregularities, leading the Ministry of Home Affairs to direct the CBI to investigate the matter further.
Key Findings of the ACB Inquiry:
- Ghost Patients and Fake Tests: The ACB alleges that the two private labs conducted tests on ghost patients who never visited any Mohalla Clinic during the 11 months of investigation.
- Manipulation of Lab Management Information System (LIMS): The report indicates that the Lab Management Information System (LIMS), containing patient details, was operated and manipulated by the private labs. The labs had “full control and access” over the data and system software, raising concerns about data integrity.
- Cost and Payments: The cost of conducting various tests at Mohalla Clinics ranged from Rs 100 to Rs 300. The private labs were paid a substantial amount, totaling Rs 4.63 crore, by the government for the tests conducted during the specified period.
- Tele-Verification Anomalies: ACB officials conducted random tele-verification of mobile numbers associated with patients at both private labs. The findings revealed a significant number of tests conducted on either invalid mobile numbers or numbers not related to the patients.
- Irregularities in Patient Data: Analysis of patient data from one of the private laboratories revealed alarming irregularities, including 12,457 tests with blank mobile numbers, 25,732 tests with ‘zero’ mobile numbers, 913 tests with fake mobile numbers, and 2,467 tests with mobile numbers repeated more than 80 times for different patients.
The ACB’s revelations have cast a shadow over the credibility of Mohalla Clinics, a significant healthcare initiative in Delhi. The investigation continues, and the alleged involvement of private labs in manipulating patient data and conducting fake tests raises serious questions about the integrity of the city’s healthcare system.
