Abhishek Banerjee faces third complaint over Sebaashray health camps
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A BJP leader filed a second police complaint against TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee and others for alleged irregularities at health camps.
- The complaint alleges medical students were presented as doctors and medical equipment was used illegally.
- The state health minister confirmed an investigation into the camps, while Banerjee's party distanced itself from the organization.
West Bengal's health minister has ordered an investigation into alleged irregularities at health camps organized under the "Sebaashray" initiative, following multiple police complaints.
Not only were medical students from government colleges brought to these camps and passed off as doctors but X-Ray and ECG machines were also brought and used in violation of national laws.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Abhijit Das lodged his second complaint against Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and others. Das claims medical students from government colleges were misrepresented as doctors and that medical equipment was used in violation of national laws. He also alleged the misuse of USG machines for prenatal sex determination, contravening the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act.
Das's initial complaint led to a first information report (FIR) filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the National Medical Commission Act, and the West Bengal Clinical Establishments Act. A second FIR was registered based on a similar complaint by a local resident. The health minister, Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee, stated that reports have been sought for a thorough investigation.
Students and non-medical employees from government hospitals were taken to the camps. We have sought all reports for a thorough investigation.
Despite the mounting allegations and FIRs, Abhishek Banerjee has not issued any statement. TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh, a party loyalist, stated that the camps were not organized by the party and declined to comment on the details. However, the TMC's official website had featured a page praising Sebaashray for its healthcare outreach, describing it as a transformative initiative that provided free consultations, diagnostic tests, and medicines to over 1.2 million people.
It will not be fair for me to comment since these camps were not held by the party. I donโt know the details.
Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.