50 patients of Coronation hospital in Dehradunwere diagnosed with Hepatitis C, after receiving dialysis at the hospital’s dialysis unit. An inquiry has been ordered by the administration of state-run Coronation Hospital in the city.

The frighteningdisclosure has posed a serious question mark on the quality of treatment and sterilization methods being used at the hospital. Though the hospital authorities have passed the blame to the private agency that has been running its dialysis unit under public-private partnership mode, the private company is claiming innocence.

Dr B C Ramola, chief medical superintendent (CMS) of the hospital, told TOI that the problem was identified when a patient receiving dialysis at its privately-run center, approached him to complain that he had been prescribed costly medicines by doctors at the dialysis center. They found that the prescribed medicines were costing around Rs 9,000 per month and were not for kidneyproblems, but for Hepatitis C, a liver disease. The curiosity was provoked because the private doctor had prescribed medicines from outside, when the government gives out Hepatitis C medicines for free. On enquiry, it was found that 50 patients undergoing dialysis at the centerwere diagnosed with the infection in the last two months. All the patients got blood tests done at the private center, whose doctors had consequently prescribed medicines from outside.

He further said that a committee of three senior doctors has been set up to investigate the matter and were asked to submit its report in three days. A doctor who is part of the committee, on condition of anonymity, told TOI that it looks like a case of fraud. Either the private center used infected syringes, apparatus or blood that infected 50 patients, or they are hand-in-gloves with a drug manufacturer that sells Hepatitis C medicine.

He added that a second test done by one of the 50 patients at AIIMS Rishikesh has discovered that he was never affected by Hepatitis C. They are going to interrogate all affected patients and the company’s employees. Officials of the company when queried denied the allegations and stated that they will respond to each point in the administration’s notice within 72 hours.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by Hepatitis C virusthatcause acute and chronic hepatitis which is characterized by mild illness to a serious and lifelong disease.