"Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee temporarily suspended for doing private practice during COVID-ban," Director Medical Education

From May 2020 to September 30, 2020, private practice was banned for the doctors and staff associated with government medical institutions. A group from Silchar has submitted documented evidence of Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee indulging in private practice. Based on that evidence, Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee has been temporarily suspended from service.

Director of Medical Education, Dr. AK Burman informed that a probe has been ordered by the government of Assam. “We received a formal complaint from a group in Silchar that Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee was doing private practice during the banned period. The complainant has submitted documented evidence to support their complaint,” informed Burman.

“Once we started investigating the matter, we found that Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee was on a long leave and the nature of that leave is not clear. As it stands now, he was on casual leave for four days and the rest of the days he was not at his duty is considered as unauthorised absence from duties,” added Burman.

It is worth mentioning here that Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee, one of the most renowned general physicians is a professor and is currently deputed in Diphu Medical College and Hospital. Dr. Burman confirmed the news about Dr. Kallol Bhattachajee’s suspension. “Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee has been temporarily suspended for doing private practice during the COVID-ban imposed by the government of Assam. He will remain suspended until the investigation is over,” asserted Dr. Burman.

A close associate of Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee who wished not to be named said that the group that complaint against Dr. Bhattacharjee runs a private hospital in Silchar. “A few patients helpless during that period called the chamber and started pleading for the doctor to treat them. That is why Dr. Bhattacharjee who was not on COVID duty checked the patients. Now some group, who run hospitals in Silchar were losing money because of Dr. Bhattacharjee treating patients and that is why they went and complaint,” said the associate of Dr. Bhattacharjee.

He added, “A couple of private hospitals were admitting each and every patients who visited the hospital irrespective of the seriousness of the disease. They kept the seats occupied and made money just because there weren’t any doctors available at the chambers. 60% of the patients depend on doctors doing private practice, where was that 60% supposed to go? They became helpless and started calling doctor Bhattacharjee.”

This complaint against Dr. Bhattacharjee and the suspension will expose many more skeletons says the associate. “There were so many doctors who indulged in private practice during the COVID period. Doctors of Silchar Medical College and Hospital checked patients in private nursing homes. There are CCTV footage and photographs and many anonymous complaints will be filed. Understand that Dr. Bhattacharjee deputed in Diphu was on leave when he allegedly did private practice. What about the doctors on COVID duty in SMCH?” the associate concluded.

Dr. Kallol Bhattacharjee was unavailable for a comment.