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Vigilance Awareness Week under way in NEIGRIHMS

By Staff correspondent

SHILLONG, Oct 28 - Vigilance Awareness Week began today in Central Government institutions with a pledge to �follow probity and rule of law.�

However, questions were raised whether this pledge has any relevance in North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS.)

The Central Vigilance Commission was established in 1964 and is an independent statutory body. One of the Commission�s mandates is to fight corruption and ensure integrity in public administration.

�I have been a victim of an expose and on the other hand no action is being taken against the corrupt,� NEIGRIHMS Director Dr DM Thappa said.

NEIGRIHMS is a super specialty hospital established by the Central Government and has been in the news for the wrong reasons. No less than the Director of the institution, Dr DM Thappa has raised serious allegation of corruption in the institute.

Dr Thappa said he has �caught red-handed� the Head of the Cardiology Department Dr Animesh Mishra bringing in expensive stents and other items worth Rs 30 lakh from private vendors last year.

The Director also claims to have received two letters from staff of the Cardiology Department alleging that this illegal trade has been going on for years.

He reported the matter to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and sought a high-level probe. But not only were these allegations watered down by the Union Ministry without any probe, in fact the Director has been asked to step down.

The State Government has gone a step further. The State Health Minister AL Hek has reportedly rubbished the allegations as mere �opinion of the Director.�

Dr Thappa on the other hand claims he has evidence that a syndicate is in business at the institute. The syndicate is duping patients to buy expensive medical items from private vendors by bypassing the Government-run Amrit Pharmacy and also �reusing them,� defying all medical ethics.

�The stents cost Rs 20,000 or so, but the accessories are costly and could run up to Rs 1 lakh and more. I have received inputs that these accessories are being reused.�

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