LUCKNOW, June 9 -- Medicine requisitions across King George's Medical University (KGMU) have reportedly fallen by 30-40% since an investigation into an alleged multi-crore medicine procurement scam in the Urology Department began, with doctors and administrators adopting stricter checks in the procurement process, officials said on Monday. The decline has been recorded across several major departments, including medicine, surgery, ophthalmology and oncology, even as hospital wards continue to function at full capacity, officials added. KGMU spokesperson Prof KK Singh said the reduction in requisitions was among intended outcomes of probe. "This was one of our primary objectives. We also wanted to ensure that the fake billings and indents that were allegedly being raised across multiple departments prior to the investigation were completely stopped," he said. According to sources, departments that earlier requisitioned medicines in large quantities for admitted patients are now placing orders only after assessing actual patient requirements. Doctors are reportedly exercising greater restraint while prescribing medicines and consumables. Sources further claimed that many doctors have become cautious about prescribing expensive medicines, including immunotherapy and targeted therapy drugs, as well as high-cost protein and iron injections. Instead, prescriptions are increasingly being based on clinical necessity and the availability of medicines. htc...