By Our Special Correspondent
The medical officer was suspended on several charges, including cheating officials by registering his biometric attendance using artificial fingerprints. Dr. Bhanu Prakash, a primary health center (PHC) medical officer at Guntupalli village in Bapatla district, left his duties and ran a private clinic in Martur.
He was able to mark his attendance with the help of subordinate staff. He was also accused of sexually harassing Assistant Nurse Midwives (ANM) and attending duty under the influence of alcohol.
The villagers raised the issue with Health Minister Vidala Rajini who visited the PHC and immediately suspended the medical officer. The staff explained to the minister that there were 17 ANMs in the PHC, some of whom were sexually harassed by Dr. Bhanu Prakash.
The minister was also shown videos of the medical officer carrying out objectionable activities in the premises of the local media. Despite the evidence against Dr. Bhanu Prakash, no action was reportedly taken as the district level officer was supporting him.
The staff explained to the minister that they took the help of a rubber stamp manufacturer to make an artificial thumb at a cost of Rs.2, 000 to Rs.3, 000 by placing fingerprints on the latex. Rajini was told that the artificial fingerprints can be used only for six months.
The incident assumes importance at a time when the state government is considering introducing a face recognition app for all government employees to register their attendance.
The system of tracking attendance through a face recognition app has been implemented for government school teachers from September 1 and will also be introduced in junior and degree colleges for students. The Health Minister inspected the PHC and expressed dismay at the lack of inpatients.
Village Sarpanch Mandala Shivanarayana alleged that all the medicines in the PHC were being shifted to his dispensary which was set up four years ago by the medical officer.
As a result, patients tend to go to other hospitals," said Narayana. They appealed to the government to take strict action against the medical officer and replace all the staff working in the PHC.
YSRC village president Maddineni Ashok said that they have received many complaints against Dr. Bhanu Prakash and that the PHC does not have injections for dog and snake bites and the medical officer will take them to his private clinic.
He said that with the help of Society of Andhra Pradesh Network (SAPNET) Chairman Bachina Krishna Chaitanya, the issue was brought to the attention of the Health Minister.
Rajini said that strict action will be taken against all the illegal activities of the medical officer and an inquiry will be ordered into the matter. The Minister of Health assured the locals that all the problems related to the PHC will be resolved.
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