A PHC nurse in Karur Municipality has been suspended for stealing Covishield vaccines from the hospital and selling them in her hometown.

Aged 58, Dhanalakshmi who belongs to Vedasandur in Dindigul district, has been working as a nurse at the Kasthuri Bai Government Maternity Centre for more than 3 decades. On the basis of a tip-off, Vedasandur Block Health Officials, led by Health Officer Pon Maheswari, conducted an inspection at Dhanalaskhmi’s house on Sunday. 

She was found to have eight vials of the vaccine. It has been reported that she had stolen several vaccines from the hospital and used to sell them at a higher price from her residence. A complaint was filed by the officials, and the nurse was suspended by the Municipal Commissioner on Monday. The department has ordered an investigation and a criminal case to be filed against the nurse.

The Deputy Director of Karur District Health Department, Santhosh Kumar, said that they were not sure of the number of vaccine vials Dhanalakshmi had stolen and for how long she had been doing this. A senior doctor at the maternity centre said that Dhanalakshmi was about to retire in the next six months and was going receive retirement benefits and pension. But now, she has spoilt all that. The doctor also said that the nurse used to report wastage of two to three vials every day during the camp, which was normal, and they never had any suspicion.

Source: The New Indian Express