A preliminary inquiry by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi Government has revealed that, during the 11 months of 2023, 65,000 ghost patients underwent pathological tests at the Mohalla Clinics through private labs. These Mohalla Clinics are the pet project of the Arvind Kejriwal Government.”
Analysis of patient data from one of the private laboratories revealed the listing of 12,457 tests with blank mobile numbers, 25,732 tests with ‘zero’ mobile numbers, 913 tests with fake mobile numbers like 1, 2, 3, etc., and 2,467 tests with mobile numbers repeated more than 80 times for different patients, as shown in the report.
Approximately 6,121 tests were conducted using the mobile number 9999999999 for different patients, identified as an invalid/fake number. Similarly, 2,399 tests were conducted using the mobile number 9821749455 for different patients, and the inquiry revealed that the mobile holder had never undergone any tests.
Additionally, 11,350 tests were conducted using mobile numbers that were repeated more than 130 times for different patients. There are significant discrepancies between the registration of patients and the number of patients whose tests were conducted with the same mobile number.
According to sources, the preliminary inquiry revealed that from February 2023 to December 2023, nearly 22 lakh tests were conducted by the two private labs, for which they were paid `4.63 crore by the Delhi Government. Out of this, more than 65,000 tests were found to be fake or manipulated.
The cost of conducting each of these tests varied from `100 to `300. On further probing with random people whose mobile numbers were picked up during investigations, it was revealed that an overwhelming 63 per cent had neither undergone any tests nor visited any Mohalla Clinic. The labs were paid `4.63 crore by the Government for the tests conducted by them, according to the sources.
Last month, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the reports of irregularities in lab tests conducted at the Mohalla Clinics.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the CBI to undertake an investigation into the matter. The private labs allegedly conducted tests on ghost patients who never visited any Mohalla Clinic, as claimed by an ACB official.
The ACB also conducted random tele-verification of mobile numbers of patients at both private labs, revealing that a large number of tests were conducted on either invalid mobile numbers or mobile numbers not related to the patients.
The examination of the patients revealed that they had never visited or undergone any tests at Mohalla Clinics. While the two private labs conducted tests on ‘ghost patients’ who never visited any Mohalla Clinic, it has also emerged that the Lab Management Information System (LIMS) containing the names and mobile numbers of the patients was developed, operated, and ‘conveniently manipulated’ by the two private labs, namely, Agilus Diagnostic Ltd. and M/s Metropolis Healthcare Ltd.
The report found that the two private vendors have ‘full control and access over the data and system software, and hence, the possibility of manipulation of data by the outsourced lab vendors could not be ruled out.’ The cost of conducting different tests at Mohalla clinics varied from `100 to `300.
The preliminary inquiry revealed that a tender process for outsourcing lab tests/diagnostic services in AAMCs, etc., was initiated vide tender file No. F.11(25)/LBSH/Outsourcing/Lab services/2022/2983 dated 29.04.2022, and the same was awarded to M/s Agilus Diagnostic Ltd. (formerly SRL Ltd.) for cluster A 86B (comprising 8 revenue districts-North District, Centre District, South-West District, West District, South-East District, South District, New Delhi District, North-West District) and M/s Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. for cluster-C (comprising 3 revenue districts-North-East District, East District, Shandara District) as the lowest bidder.
Reacting to the ACB findings, Delhi BJP slammed the Kejriwal Government over the procurement and supply of alleged spurious and non-standard drugs in Government hospitals and Mohalla Clinics, saying the alleged scam was being undertaken at the behest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Delhi BJP president Veerendra Sachdeva has said the Kejriwal Government conducted 22 lakh fraudulent or unnecessary tests with no contact details provided for over 25,000 tests.
Sachdeva said Delhi has a Government with a long list of corruption cases, and recent revelations about a major scam in Mohalla Clinics popped up by the Delhi Government confirm the extent of corruption.
