DMCH wakes up as fake test report scam busted

A “fraudster” had been taking money from patients in Dhaka Medical College Hospital promising them of having their pathological tests done and results delivered.

Shahid, “the cheat”, took samples from patients and delivered “fake” test reports.

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A visiting doctor found out his “fraudulent activity” on Thursday.

Tofazzel Haque Chayan, the doctor, went to visit a child patient he knows at the hospital's burn unit. When he looked at the medical test reports of the patient, he found that those were unclear and did not have the signature of a doctor, sources at the burn unit said.

He became suspicious and looked into the test reports of other patients there. He found them unclear and without any signature as well.

Chayan, a former student of Dhaka Medical College, then asked attendants of other patients how they had their tests done. They told him that one Shahid approached them and offered them to collect samples and have the tests done in exchange for Tk 1,200- 1,400 each.

Many took the offer since the building where tests are done was far away and because it would be convenient to have Shahid do the tests for them.

Shahid, who according to burn unit employees has been “working as a broker” at DMCH for the last six to seven years, was called in and asked to explain, which he failed to do.

The patients' attendants there then took him before the hospital director and the hospital authorities later handed him over to Shahbagh police.

The DMCH formed an enquiry committee to look into the matter.

The six-member committee, led by DMCH Deputy Director Md Zakir Hossain, has been given 10 working days to submit its report.

Officer-in-Charge Abu Bakar Siddique said a ward master of DMCH filed a general diary in this regard. About 24 hours later, Shahbagh police released Shahid after having him sign a bond.