RG Kar financial scam: CBI seeks report from Bengal government on biomedical wastes

Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is looking into financial misconduct at the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital and has requested a report from the West Bengal health department about how biomedical waste is managed in medical institutions across the state. This inquiry comes amid claims that part of the financial scandal involves the illegal handling of biomedical waste.

According to sources, the CBI has asked the state health department when central policies for managing biomedical waste were implemented and whether the department has been monitoring compliance with these regulations in hospitals and medical colleges.

Investigators have reportedly found serious issues with how biomedical waste is disposed of at R.G. Kar. Hospitals are required to follow specific procedures to prevent the reuse of biomedical materials. However, it has been discovered that reusable items such as saline bottles, syringes, and needles were sold on the market instead of being properly discarded.

Each hospital is also mandated to keep records of the amount of biomedical waste they dispose of over time. In the case of R.G. Kar, it has been noted that the reported waste disposal volume is significantly lower than that of other similar-sized state-run medical facilities.

Additionally, investigators have identified two individuals from Bangladesh who frequently visited Kolkata and established connections with Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R.G. Kar. The CBI is currently investigating Ghosh for two separate cases: the recent rape-murder of a junior doctor at the hospital and the ongoing financial misconduct investigation. These Bangladeshi nationals were primarily involved in procuring medical equipment for sale to various hospitals in Bangladesh.

Agency