Diagnostic Centre in Silchar where Dr Kallol Bhattacharjee "might have practiced" sealed by administration

Wailing siren, the officials from Cachar District administration rushed to the area near Silchar Medical College and Hospital and sealed Modern Diagnostic Centre. One of the most crowded clinics in the stretch opposite SMCH’s entrance, Modern Diagnostic Centre is owned by Sriti Bhattacharjee – mother of  Kallol Bhattacharjee, Mumtaz Choudhury and Nobonita Roy.

An order issued by the Joint Director, Health – Cachar read, “Whereas it has appeared from the enquiry report submitted by the administration, that Modern Diagnostic Centre, Ghungoor has not maintained the records related to patients.”

The order added, “Whereas, it has also appeared that the management/owners of Modern Diagnostic Centre, Ghungoor have destroyed the record with a mala fide intention to mislead the enquiry. The Authority deems it fit to suspend the services of the diagnostic centre under the clinical establishment (Registration and Regulation) Act 2010 until further order.”

The Joint Director had filed an FIR on October 6, 2020, at Silchar Sadar Police Station alleging that the Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee had remained absent from duties at Diphu Medical College and was busy in private practise in Silchar. At that time, private practice was prohibited for the doctors and nurses associated with Government hospitals by the Department of Health, Government of Assam.

Apart from the FIR, the Joint Director had handed over a copy of a prescription written on the letterhead of Dr Kallol Bhattacharjee. It was prescribed on September 21 but the year is not mentioned. To ascertain the facts and determine probe if Dr Kallol Bhattacharjee indeed was involved in private practice, assistant commissioner Maria Tanim and her team visited Modern Diagnostic Centre.

On enquiring about the appointment registers and other records, the receptionists and other staff of the Modern Diagnostic Centre have produced only the register for the current month and from Jan to March 2020. They could not produce the Appointment Register for rest of the months and other records maintained in the centre.

“The receptionist cited that they have destroyed all the old records during last Bishwakarma Puja. However, records for the year 2019 were found lying in the reception desk,” stated the report submitted by a senior officer in district administration.

“While the enquiry process was going on many patients came searching for Dr Kallol Bhatacharjee. The patients said they took an appointment and on verification, their name has been found in the appointment register as well. But there was no mention of Doctors name in the register. The receptionist says they took an appointment for Dr Madhumita Bhatacharjee only. Meanwhile, a patient with a payment receipt dated November 13, 2020, visited the centre and was asking for his blood and urine report. In the receipt, ‘referred by Doctor column was blank,” stated the report.

The officer in Cachar administration also noted that in the prescription copy of the same patient, the name of the Doctor and date is not mentioned. Dr Kallol Bhattacharjee, who is presently in Silchar has been also summoned and was enquired regarding his private practice and violation of Govt order. “He completely denied the fact of examining any patients during the ban period of private practice by doctors. Further, he stated that he has not seen any patient since the last part of March ‘2020. He also mentioned that he was on leave from last week of August to 2nd week of September’2020 with due permission from his higher authority. He joined his duty back at Diphu Medical College on 22nd,” stated the report.

“Circumstantial pieces of evidence shows Dr Kallol Bhattacharjee might have practised privately in the month of September 2020,” stated the enquiry report submitted by the administration.

It adds, “No direct evidence could be collected as the diagnostic centre did not produce the required documents and cited vague reason o burning documents during Vishwakarma puja while similar documents from 2019 were present. lt may be mentioned here that the Modern Diagnostic Centre functions in a very unsystematic manner. The records are not properly maintained.”

Based on this report, action has been taken against Modern Diagnostic Centre. Dr Kallol Bhattacharjee was unavailable for comment.