After its enquiry, the National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC) India has found several irregularities in the case of a fake doctor working as a Cardiologist at Mission Hospital in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh. Accordingly, it has made several recommendations to the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Centre seeking action taken reports within four weeks. The Commission had registered the case on the basis of a complaint on 28th March, 2025, and conducted its enquiry besides seeking reports from the concerned State authorities on the matter.

The Commission has recommended to the Government of Madhya Pradesh, through its Chief Secretary, that it pay Rupees 10 Lakh each as relief to the next of kin of all seven patients who died following treatment by the fake Cardiologist at this hospital. The Commission has also recommended cancellation of the license of the Mission Hospital until the final disposal of the matter besides issuing necessary directions to officials to inspect all Cath labs, which are functional in Madhya Pradesh. Further, the State Government shall also issue necessary directions to verify whether all the doctors are qualified to work in the Cath labs or not.

Some of the other recommendations to the State Government are as follows:

• Inform whether the hospital had taken insurance or not? If yes, whether the legal heirs of deceased victim have been disbursed the insurance money or not;
• Whether any information regarding performing surgery, details about the patients' medical history, and any relevant test results, or about the specific procedure, its potential risks and benefits, and any alternative treatment options, were shared with the Chief Medical & Health Officer (CMHO), Damoh;
• Look into the irregularities related to the lease, transfer, and unauthorized construction on Plot No. 86/1, and initiate necessary disciplinary and legal action against the erring officials;
• The Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh to initiate departmental action against the concerned police officers who committed negligence in the registration of an FIR and investigation into it, besides registering separate FIRs as per procedural law and legal principles against the accused persons and management of Mission Hospital including charges related to culpable homicide, fraud, cheating, forgery, medical negligence, malpractice, misappropriation of funds etc.
• Investigate through the EOW, as well as the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) Bhopal, the misuse of Ayushman Bharat Scheme by Mission Hospital and foreign donations for the treatment of patients having Ayushman card;
• Provide protection to the complainants, who played a key role in exposing a criminal syndicate operating under the guise of a hospital in accordance with the provisions of the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014;
• Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to get the verification done of Cath Labs across the country, and issue directions to all State Governments to check the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Scheme in letter and spirit.

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NSK