Kolkata, 02 July (H.S.) : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has levelled serious allegations against the Trinamool Congress's Sebashray medical camp initiative, accusing its organisers of violating medical norms, employing unqualified practitioners, and allegedly directing patients to private hospitals for financial gain.

West Bengal BJP leader Abhijit Das, popularly known as Bobby, lodged a complaint at the Bishnupur Police Station seeking an investigation into the functioning of the camps.

In his complaint, Das named Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, his close associate Sumit Roy, Ayan Ghosh Dastidar, a local MLA, panchayat representatives, and several doctors associated with the programme, alleging that the camps were conducted in violation of established medical and legal regulations.

According to the complaint, the camps allegedly engaged unregistered practitioners, including quacks and homeopathic doctors, to provide modern medical treatment. Das also alleged that ultrasound (USG) machines were operated without obtaining the mandatory statutory approvals.

The BJP leader further claimed that prescriptions issued at the camps lacked essential medical information, including diagnosis details and the treating doctor's registration number. He submitted a copy of a prescription that allegedly mentioned only the patient's name, age, and the remark Referred to Hospital.

Das also alleged that local residents were pressured into attending the camps to inflate participation figures and project the programme as a success. He questioned the quality and expiry status of medicines distributed during the initiative.

A copy of the complaint has been forwarded to the Superintendent of Police of the Diamond Harbour Police District, requesting a detailed investigation into the allegations.

The complaint comes days after a doctor, claiming to have worked at the Sebashray camps, alleged that although treatment was promoted as free, patients were allegedly referred for expensive diagnostic tests such as MRI and CT scans, which are not covered under the state's Swasthya Sathi health insurance scheme.

According to the doctor, speaking anonymously to the media, representatives of private hospitals associated with the camps allegedly persuaded patients to undergo hospitalisation after diagnostic tests. The doctor further claimed that patients with relatively minor ailments were kept admitted for extended periods, resulting in higher hospital bills that were allegedly reimbursed under the Swasthya Sathi scheme.

The BJP has alleged that the practice, if proven, could amount to diversion of public funds through inflated insurance claims.

However, none of these allegations have been independently verified or confirmed by any official agency. There has been no immediate response from Abhishek Banerjee or the Trinamool Congress regarding the complaint.

Police have not yet announced whether a formal case has been registered or an inquiry has been initiated into the matter.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh