The National Human Rights Commission: On 07-07-2025, the National Human Rights Commission (‘NHRC’) released findings from its inquiry into a fake cardiologist at Mission Hospital in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh. The Commission had registered the case on 28-04-2025.
Upon finding numerous irregularities in the case and issued strong recommendations to both the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Centre, seeking action to be taken within four weeks, the NHRC recommended that the Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, pay Rs. 10 Lakh each as compensation to the next of kin of the seven patients who died after being treated by the fake cardiologist. It also called for the cancellation of Mission Hospital’s license until the matter is resolved and urged the State Government to inspect all functional Cath Labs in Madhya Pradesh. The NHRC further directed the State Government to issue necessary directions to verify whether all the doctors are qualified to work in the Cath labs or not.
The NHRC made the following recommendations to the State Government:
- To determine whether the hospital had taken insurance or not. If yes, whether the legal heirs of the deceased victim have received the insurance money or not.
- To find out 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.
- To investigate 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.
- To investigate through the EOW, as well as the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Bhopal, the misuse of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme by Mission Hospital and foreign donations for the treatment of patients having an Ayushman card.
- To 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.
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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.
