Offline vaccination centre operating behind the curtains at civil hospital, ADC Sattavan assures enquiry

May 11: The age old adage goes, “Nero fiddles while Rome burns.” True to the saying, when thousands and lakhs of people are unable to do online booking of slots for vaccine registration even after staying glued to the CoWIN app for hours together, some employees in the health department (!) are busy minting money by administering vaccines through backdoor in lieu of a fat amount. Yes, this is what was revealed before a dozen of journalists at SM Dev Civil Hospital, Silchar on Tuesday afternoon.

There were some unconfirmed reports about vaccination going on in an illegal manner at premises of Additional Chief Medical & Health Officer located in the compound of the SM Dev Civil Hospital, Silchar. Finally, on the basis of a clue when newsmen reached the spot and started doing investigation in their own way, a Pandora’s box was unraveled before them. It did not take much time for them to find out that vaccination was going on inside a small unhygienic room in that office.

Naturally, such a scene of administering Covid vaccine in the campus of Silchar Civil Hospital immediately gave rise to a number of questions. When district health department through a public notification informed that the vaccination centre at Silchar Civil Hospital has been shifted at Durga Shankar Patshala, Ambicapatty, then how could people were vaccinated at Civil hospital? How were they giving vaccines to beneficiaries of almost all ages (18 to 60 plus) without checking the online booking credentials? How were the vaccines given inside such a small room which appears more as a store room than a proper set up for the purpose of vaccination? These were just the tip of an iceberg. Gradually, many other such inconsistencies came to the forefront, which were enough to fathom that some were hands in gloves involved in an unholy nexus of vaccine black marketing.

On investigation, it was revealed that vaccine was infact administered at the Civil Hospital campus. An official informed that Sumit Sattavan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Health), Cachar has forwarded a list of 18 BSNL employees who were given the 2nd dose of the Covid vaccine. Well, this is indeed within the purview of the district administration to give priority to employees whose 2nd dose is due. But more curiously, some of them were even given the 1st dose. What came out as more surprising was apart from a few BSNL employees, there were staff of APDCL, contractors, businessmen, senior citizens who too have been given vaccine there on Tuesday afternoon.

On query, two employees of the office of the office of the Additional Chief Medical & Health Officer, Nilanjan Gupta & Swarnajit Paul failed to give any satisfactory reply. But soon it became clear that without online registration at CoWIN, 1st doses of Covid vaccine was given to non-BSNL employees. It was then that another person who took the jab told to the newsmen present there that on payment of Rs.1000, the 1st dose of vaccine was made available to them. Curiously, the name of another staff of that office, Rathi Nath surfaced who was alleged of doing the dealings. So it became clear that, inspite of not being a centre, people were given vaccine doses in lieu of money.

The journalists then entered the small room where an ANM nurse Sarbani Roy was administering the vaccines. On query, she revealed that she had opened 3 vials of vaccine during the day. 10 persons can be vaccinated from each vial. Going by that standard calculation, it is clear that 30 persons can be vaccinated if 3 vials were opened. When asked, “18 BSNL employees were to be given the 2nd dose, so that means, 2 vials were required. So why did you open 3 vials?” She started to stammer and failed to give any appropriate reply. She also said that on Monday too, few vials were opened. The time was then around 2 PM. The moment journalists started asking such “hard questions”, the process of vaccination was instantly stopped.

Swarnajit Paul said, “We are providing the vaccines to those whose names were mentioned in the list provided by ADC Sumit Sattavan. Apart from this, I do not know anything.” When asked, Dr. PK Roy, Additional Chief Medical & Health Officer said, “I do not know exactly what is going on. But your allegations seems to be correct. I could see many people over here. I will definitely enquire into the matter.” On further query, it came to the forefront that another employee, Prabhat Sinha is in charge of the vials. The 3 vials were also released on his signature. But as expected, he too failed to give any appropriate reply.

It was then that Swarnajit Paul (employee of the office), gave a new version. He said that they were running a Vaccine Waste Management Centre as per the direction of the government. When after opening a vial at different vaccination centres, if there remains unused doses in it, then such unused doses are deposited in the Waste Management Centre. Paul added, “Here at the Waste Management Centre, we on priority basis, on the basis of government guidelines provide vaccines after spot registration. This is done from 4 PM to 5 PM.” But if that be the case, then why the Waste Management Centre violated the guidelines and was giving vaccine in the morning and afternoon? Why were 3 new vials opened at the Waste Management Centre? Why publicity was not made about this Waste Management Centre so that everyone could know about this? Why is this centre running secretly? Swarnajit Paul quickly responded to it and said that the matter regarding the Waste Management Centre was informed to Suman Choudhury, District Media Expert. It is he who is supposed to make this information public.

ANM nurse Sarbani Roy replied, “I am here just to administer the vaccines to those who are sent by Swarnajit Paul. I don’t know anything about the list of BSNL employees sent by ADC  Cachar.” It was just like passing the ball from one to another.” Interestingly, a BSNL official present there informed that out of the 18 persons mentioned in the list, only 12 have taken the vaccine and 6 of them have not taken the jab. That means from the 3 vials which were opened on Tuesday, 12 BSNL employees plus 18 other persons were given the vaccines! As per the statement of a beneficiary, if Rs.1000 per person is charged for the jab, then it would mean that illegal transaction of a huge amount of money is going on in the name of Waste Management Centre.

Moreover, a quick survey of the room where vaccination was going on inside the so-called Waste management centre revealed that around 100 to 150 used syringes were lying inside an open bag. Vials of Covaxin were also found disposed on the ground.

When contacted, ADC Sumit Sattavan listened  carefully to the entire episode going on in the office of the Additional Chief Medical & Health Officer located in the compound of the SM Dev Civil Hospital, Silchar. He too confirmed about the list which contained names of 18 BSNL employees who were to be vaccinated. The ADC said that he would immediately enquire the entire matter on priority basis and take necessary action.

So when confusion & unavailability of online vaccination slot prevails across Assam, persons from 18 plus to 60 and above are getting vaccinated (1st  dose) without any online registration at the Vaccine Waste Management Centre situated in the office of the Additional Chief Medical & Health Officer located in the compound of the SM Dev Civil Hospital, Silchar!!!!

Also Read: Confusion & unavailability of online vaccination slot prevails across Assam