Online report system reveals 'malpractices' at Calcutta Medical College & Hospital

Kolkata: Until a few months ago, the pathology department of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital use to get around 800 blood samples a day. However, after an online system of blood report collection was introduced at the hospital, the number of samples reduced to around 300.

It was found that several unauthorised persons from private pathological centres had been submitting blood samples at the medical college to get the tests done at no cost.

According to a source, before the online system was introduced around 800 blood samples were deposited at the pathology department of the hospital.

Under this system, the patient or his family members had to fill up a requisition form issued by the pathology department of the hospital. The patient party used to get two copies of the filled up requisition form and a date was issued by authorities for blood collection.

On the day of collection, the hospital authorities use to take one copy from the patient and wrap it around the sample container. After the examination process was completed, the patient used to get the report from the pathology department by submitting the other copy to the pathology department. Some persons from a few private pathological centres around the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital were using these forms to get blood reports of their patients from the pathology department of the medical college and hospital.

They used the findings of the reports, provided by the pathology department of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, to come up with their own reports. These pathological centres charged a good amount of money to hand over these reports to their patients.

Superintendent of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital Indranil Biswas said the hospital authority used to get several complaints of missing reports and there were allegations that people working with private pathology centres were using the pathology department of the medical college and hospital to conduct tests for their patients.

"After the online system was introduced, the requisition form was obsolete. Now, the registration number of the patient, which is printed on the outdoor ticket, is the only identification," said Biswas.

A source said after the online system was introduced, the number of sample deposit has come down to around 300 a day. It is alleged that a section of staff of the medical college and hospital were involved in corruption.