The allegations include signing attendance registers without being present, issuing fake disability certificates for bribes, and causing financial loss to the government through negligence.
Published Apr 25, 2025 | 8:19 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 25, 2025 | 8:19 PM
Andhra Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Satya Kumar Yadav
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Friday ordered disciplinary action against six senior government doctors accused of misconduct, including unauthorised absence, bribery, and negligence causing financial loss.
Andhra Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Friday, 25 April, ordered a thorough investigation and disciplinary action against six government doctors accused of misconduct while holding senior positions.
The allegations include signing attendance registers without being present, issuing fake disability certificates for bribes, and causing financial loss to the government through negligence.
The Minister noted that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had already conducted preliminary investigations in two of the cases.
The ACB investigated complaints of corruption, irregularities, and harassment of businesses in the Nellore Municipal Corporation’s public health department.
Dr P Venkataramanaiah, the Health Officer, was accused of ignoring 44 hospitals operating without permits and failing to inspect 27 function halls. Following a surprise inspection in April 2022, an inquiry was initiated.
Minister Satya Kumar Yadav conveyed approval to the Urban Development and Municipal Administration Department to take appropriate disciplinary action against Dr Venkataramanaiah.
Separately, following a complaint that doctors at Eluru Government General Hospital had issued fake disability certificates for bribes ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹25,000, the ACB conducted an inquiry and confirmed irregularities in the issuance of five certificates.
Based on the findings, the Minister directed a departmental inquiry to impose major penalties on Civil Assistant Surgeons Dr N Rajendra Prasad, Dr T Ramamohan Rao, and Dr Swarna Srinivasulu.
Additionally, Dr Indira Devi, Medical Superintendent of the Government Area Hospital in Gudivada, was accused of signing the attendance register without attending work.
Senior officials from the Directorate of Secondary Health investigated and confirmed that Dr Devi had been absent for 22 days between January and March 2024 but had still signed the register.
Face Recognition System revealed that during this period, she was in Machilipatnam for one day, Tanuku for eight days, and Visakhapatnam for 13 days.
As her explanation was deemed unsatisfactory, the Minister ordered “appropriate action as per rules”.
He also directed action against the then Krishna district District Coordinator of Hospital Services for negligence in monitoring attendance, and against the then Krishna district District Medical and Health Officer for conducting only a nominal inquiry into the complaint.
Another case involved Dr Sudha Ayyagari, now a Civil Surgeon Specialist at Yemmiganur Area Hospital, who was found to have been absent from duty without authorisation for a year starting February 2022.
As she failed to provide valid reasons, the Minister ordered an inquiry to initiate appropriate disciplinary action.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
