Nursing Officer Suspended for Bribery in Madhya Pradesh

Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh – Lakshmi Panwar, a nursing officer at the Shajapur District Hospital, has been suspended following serious allegations of accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 to perform a delivery operation. The suspension, ordered by collector Riju Bafna, is part of a wider initiative by local authorities and the health department to address corruption within the healthcare system after complaints were filed against Panwar. The Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr. Ajay Salvia confirmed the suspension, noting that Panwar has been temporarily reassigned to the community health centre in Kalapipal during the investigation. This decisive action came after a thorough inquiry led by deputy collector Rajkumar Haldhar, which revealed that the bribe was paid in two parts: Rs 7,000 in cash and Rs 8,000 through an online transaction. The investigation was prompted by complaints from Bherulal and his son Govind, whose wife, Mamta Bai, was the patient involved. Additionally, an Asha worker named Sitabai, who facilitated the transaction, received a warning letter from Dr. Salvia. The inquiry also uncovered that Panwar had been providing unauthorized medical advice to pregnant women at a makeshift clinic located in a classroom next to Hariom Medical Store, which has since been sealed. This incident highlights the administration's commitment to upholding integrity and transparency within the healthcare sector, as they continue to address and investigate corruption allegations.