The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, to investigate a complaint alleging that the doctors at the institute flouted procurement norms and sent patients to buy brain implants from a private vendor. The Commission has sought an action taken report from the institute within 15 days.
NHRC took cognisance of the issue after receiving a complaint in this regard from the Sahyadri Rights Forum, a non-government entity. The forum accused the AIIMS doctors of violating norms that require institutional procurement from approved vendors at regulated costs.
While these norms are in place to shield patients from the medical suppliers, the doctors at the institute allegedly asked the patients to approach a private vendor, thereby exposing them to additional costs.
The complainant referred to a June 2 news report describing how the AIIMS neuroradiology department doctors provided a private vendor's phone number to the patients or their caregivers and instructed them to directly buy a diverter, a stent-like device that is used to treat blood vessel disorders in the brain.