Security Staff at Chamiyana Super Specialty Hospital Caught Selling Masks; MS Orders Probe

Shimla, July 11:
A controversy has emerged at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties (AIMSS), Chamiyana, where hospital security personnel were allegedly found illegally selling masks to patients and their attendants. The issue gained attention after the Medical Superintendent (MS) issued an official memo to the security in-charge, directing a formal inquiry and a detailed report within two days.

The matter came to light when a video went viral on social media, showing a security guard posted at the hospital gate selling masks to visitors. According to sources, these were standard surgical masks typically used in operation theatres, and were being sold at ₹10 apiece.

Reliable sources further revealed that the actual procurement cost of these masks for the hospital ranges between 80 paise and ₹1.15 per mask. This has raised serious questions: how did these masks end up with the security personnel, and who was supplying them? Despite the presence of CCTV surveillance on the premises, the fact that such a practice allegedly went on unchecked for some time has cast doubts on the hospital administration’s oversight.

It’s worth noting that the use of masks is mandatory for patients and their attendants in all hospitals across the state, especially in view of the emerging threat from new COVID variants. However, exploiting this requirement to extract money from already burdened families is not only unethical but also damages the credibility of a key medical institution.

The hospital administration is now under pressure to identify those responsible and take corrective action to ensure such malpractice is not repeated.