India Today sting op exposes bribe-for-treatment racket at Lucknow hospitals

India Today

20 hours ago

A sting operation by India Today TV has exposed rampant corruption and malpractice at several government hospitals in Lucknow. Patients are being forced to pay bribes to jump queues, and doctors are allegedly prescribing medicines from private stores instead of providing free ones available at the hospital.Recently, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak conducted a surprise inspection at Balrampur Hospital in Lucknow and expressed displeasure over doctors prescribing outside medicines on official government slips. Notices were issued to two doctors. Building on this, India Today TV launched a city-wide investigation into government healthcare facilities.advertisementBALRAMPUR HOSPITALBalrampur Hospital, one of the city's busiest government-run medical centres, painted a bleak picture. Patients crowded stairwells and corridors as they waited for treatment, many leaving with prescriptions for medicines they were told are 'unavailable' at the hospital - only to find them readily sold at neighbouring shops.
In one instance, a patient named Indrajeet, who had come for his children's treatment, said he was often asked to buy medicines from outside, spending up to Rs 300 a week. He also alleged a man named Raja takes Rs 100 to get patients ahead in the queue.BRIBES FOR BASIC TREATMENTThe India Today TV team also visited the radiology department at Balrampur Hospital, where a patient alleged that a woman accepted a Rs 100 bribe to push someone ahead in the line. VIPs and influential people, like lawyers and police officers, were seen getting immediate attention while regular patients waited for hours.advertisementDuring the sting operation, a reporter posing as a patient offered a bribe to a compounder, who initially mentioned a long queue but later relented, saying he could "put in a word" for Rs 400 to Rs 500. A ward boy then confirmed the deal and asked for the prescription.At the ultrasound wing, a compounder promised faster scans in exchange for money. In the orthopaedic department, another staffer demanded Rs 500 to bypass the queue, advising the reporter to stay quiet.CIVIL HOSPITALAt Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civil Hospital, similar practices were found. Surrounded by private pharmacies, the hospital appeared to function in sync with them. A patient named Mukesh Maurya, undergoing thyroid treatment, said they never receive their medication at the hospital. Another patient, Ratnesh, said his prescription had 'ticks' beside certain drugs — an unspoken instruction to buy them from outside.Some patients even claimed that doctors suggested private medicines are "more effective" or "easier to digest", creating an illusion of superiority while pushing them towards unnecessary expenses.CHC INDIRANAGARAt the Community Health Centre in Indiranagar, conditions were equally dismal. Patients sat under tin sheds alongside stray dogs. Two women recounted how most tests and medicines had to be sourced externally. One said she was referred to Lohia Hospital for a test and to a private lab for another. Staff at the hospital admitted that essential gynaecological medicines were often unavailable.GOVERNMENT IN ACTIONSpeaking to India Today TV, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said he regularly conducts surprise inspections and takes strict action when irregularities are found. He confirmed that doctors at Balrampur were prescribing different brands of medicines despite adequate stock being available. Notices were issued and disciplinary action is underway, he said.Pathak also acknowledged the issue of doctors using "tick marks" to signal patients to buy certain medicines outside. He stated that hospitals have sufficient inventory and added that 20 per cent of the medicine budget is reserved for emergency purchases, a provision he said must be used without delay.
IN THIS STORY#Lucknow#Uttar Pradesh