Kolkata, 26 October (H.S.) : The unethical practice of selling medical duty shifts on an hourly basis will no longer be tolerated, asserted Health Minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay. The stern warning comes in the wake of shocking allegations that a section of interns at the Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital has been trading duty hours in exchange for monetary compensation.

The Health Minister revealed that the irregularities were uncovered during an internal investigation by the state health department. Authorities are now closely monitoring specific WhatsApp groups where these illicit duty transactions allegedly took place. Mukhopadhyay stated that he is personally overseeing the matter and that strict warnings have been issued to the administrators of the involved messaging groups.

Government hospitals in the state frequently face criticism over long patient wait times, doctor shortages, and service delays. Against this backdrop, the duty-for-cash scandal at a premier institution like NRS Medical College has triggered widespread outrage and controversy.

According to the allegations, interns were actively negotiating duty substitutions on WhatsApp, with active bargaining centered around the specific hospital department, shift duration, and the exact amount to be paid. As screenshots of these financial negotiations went viral, serious concerns have been raised regarding patient safety and the overall quality of healthcare. Citizens are increasingly questioning how critical medical responsibilities can be evaded through backdoor monetary transactions, potentially putting vulnerable patients at severe risk.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh