Kanpur: Investigation by the Saifai police has brought to light the fact that Dr Sameer Saraf, arrested on charges of implanting substandard pacemakers in heart patients at exaggerated prices at the Uttar Pradesh Medical Sciences University in Etawah district, had taken 40 days leave (from October 16 to November 25) to avoid police action.The investigating officer of Saifai police station, circle officer Nagendra Chaubey said a notice was served to the accused doctor by the university administration on September 5.As soon as we served him notice, a meeting of the working committee was held on September 12, following which, he proceeded on leave for 40 days, said Chaubey. Saraf was arrested after it came to the fore that he had implanted non-MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), cheap quality pacemakers in heart patients and even priced them higher than the stipulated price. As per university authorities, it came to the fore that Saraf had replaced regular MRI pacemakers with cheap non-MRI ones by putting a sticker of the former on them to make a profit.Saraf had implanted non-MRI pacemakers to patients at a price several times higher than the actual price charged by the university. After a patient covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme complained to the university administration about the anomaly, the university authorities constituted an inquiry committee, which found corruption and irregularities in the system.During investigation, it came to the fore that between 2017 and 2019, Sarraf had implanted pacemaker in nearly 250 heart patients, many of whom developed complications and died. An investigation began against Saraf and others in February 2022, following which, he was suspended. The university administration constituted a state level investigation team of experts, including then registrar of university, Suresh Chand Sharma, and then chief medical superintendent Dr Adesh Kumar. The CMS had sent a letter to the police on December 24, 2022 and the matter was investigated by then university police outpost in charge sub-inspector K K Yadav and a case was registered. Saraf was also accused of taking several unauthorised foreign trips, sponsored by the companies from which the supply of medical goods that were not even needed were purchased on the expense of the university.Circle officer Nagendra Chaubey carried out the investigation and found several anomalies. After obtaining permission from the health department DGMA, Saraf was arrested and sent to jail.We also published the following articles recentlyFor lure of foreign trip, govt cardiologist implanted overpriced, wrong pacemakerA cardiologist in Uttar Pradesh Medical Sciences University, Saifai, was arrested for using sub-standard pacemakers in heart patients. Investigations revealed that non-MRI pacemakers were used instead of the more expensive MRI pacemakers, allowing the doctor to make undue profits. The doctor implanted pacemakers in nearly 250 patients, many of whom developed complications and died. The doctor was also accused of corruption, irregularities, and unnecessary purchases. He was arrested and produced in court under the Prevention of Corruption Act.Insurer told to pay 3L to SoBo pacemaker patientA district consumer commission in Mumbai has ordered an insurance company to reimburse a woman Rs 2.65 lakh ($3,600) along with a compensation of Rs 2.70 lakh ($3,700) for a pacemaker replacement surgery. The insurance claim was initially rejected on the grounds that it was only a pacemaker battery replacement. However, the commission found that the discharge summary had been rectified by the attending surgeon and other documents proved it was a pacemaker replacement. The commission criticized the insurance company for arbitrarily rejecting claims to avoid liability.Insurance company told to pay 3 lakh compensation to pacemaker patientA consumer commission has ordered an insurance company to reimburse a woman for a pacemaker replacement surgery and pay compensation, after the company rejected the claim on technical grounds. The commission stated that the companys interpretation of the discharge summary was incorrect and that other documents confirmed it was a pacemaker replacement. The insurance company was criticized for its "pick and choose" approach. The woman and her husband had filed a complaint against the insurance company and its TPA.

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