OSTF Scam: Odisha Vigilance arrests SCB Doctor

KalingaTV News Network

Cuttack:  The Vigilance Cell on Wednesday arrested Dr Sudha Sethy, Asst. Professor and Nodal Officer, OSTF, Department of Clinical Hematology in SCB Medical College and Hospital here on charges of misusing her official position to show undue official favour to certain pharmaceutical companies.

The investigating agency, in an official statement said that Dr Sethy had prescribed various high cost drugs, manufactured from selected pharmaceutical companies to poor patients getting financial assistance for their treatment under Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF).

Head of Hematology Department, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Dr Rabindra Kumar Jena had even obtained pecuniary advantages from those pharmaceutical companies for his foreign tours and accommodation abroad, the statement added.

Notably, the State government launched OSTF in December 2011 aiming to help the poor patients, particularly people under BPL category, who are suffering from life threatening diseases like cancer, chronic diseases etc.

Earlier in November, Vigilance sleuths conducted raids on residences of Dr Jena here for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The Vigilance Cell said, steps are being taken to trace and arrest Dr Jena in this connection.