Senior auxiliary health worker Bharat Mahato, who is also an in-charge at Hatpate Primary Health Post at Hatpate VDC, has been found selling free medicines provided by the District Health Office (DHO) Sindhuli, from his two private clinics at Wards No. 8 and 6.The incident came to light after Sanjeeb Adhikari, a local, purchased some medicines from Mahato's clinic. Adhikari became suspicious after he found the words 'Provided free of costs by the government of Nepal' printed on the medicine packaging.
"We became suspicious after the news spread in the village. The locals acting together then searched one of Mahato's clinics and found two cartons of 12 types of free medicines provided by the government," said Ritesh Raut, a local.
Venting his anger, Raut said, "This is an act of mass fraud. Stern action should be taken against him."
Assistant Sub-Inspector Janmajaya Yadav of Hatpate Police Post has confirmed the incident. "Mahato himself has admitted to selling the free medicines," he said.
According to locals, Mahato is just one among many health workers who divert free medicines to their private clinics. "In lack of monitoring and investigations, government staff are cheating the public," Bishnu Magar of Kapilkot said. "Many health workers have their own clinics in the villages. They have been sending unsuspecting patients to their own clinics to purchase the free medicines," he added.
Chief District Officer Deepak Raj Nepal said that punishment will be meted out if investigations prove their guilt. However, Magar expressed his doubts. "Health workers refer us to their clinics even if we need a common medicine like Cetamol.'
"Such activities are rampant all over the district. Who will take action against them?" he asked.
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