22-05-2025
Chikkamagaluru DHO issues notices to doctors for referring patients to private scanning centres
The District Health Officer (DHO) has issued notices to two doctors at the district hospital in Chikkamagaluru seeking responses with regard to allegations of referring patients to private scanning centres and insisting them to purchase medicines from private medical shops.
The DHO issued notices on Thursday following the surprise visit by members of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Shashidhar Kosambe and Thippeswamy, members of the commission, visited the hospital on Wednesday. During their visit, they interacted with the public about the services available.
Many patients reportedly told the members that Puttappa and Pandurangaiah, both obstetrician-gynaecologists, referred patients to get scanning done in private centres and also insisted that they purchase medicine from private shops.
The commission members questioned the necessity of referring patients to private scanning centres when a radiologist and scanning equipment were available at the district hospital. They also wondered why patients should purchase medicine outside when there was a sufficient stock in the hospital.
Based on the commission's observation, the DHO has issued notices to both the doctors, asking them to give a written response within seven days.
Nursing homes
Similarly, the DHO has issued notices to two private nursing homes, Lakshmi Medicare on Market Road and Prashanthi Hospital at Shankarapura, for failing to follow the norms as per the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994. The commission members and officers of the Health Department visited these centres on Wednesday and noticed discrepancies in displaying the rate chart, maintaining records, besides violating the norms with respect to the size of the scanning room.
The scanning centres have been asked to give written responses within three days. Besides, the DHO has issued a notice to District Family Welfare Officer Shashikala M. for failing to ensure the private scanning centres follow the norms strictly.
