LUCKNOW, June 6 -- A string of anomalies across key departments at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) has triggered concerns over institutional oversight, internal controls and accountability mechanisms at one of Uttar Pradesh's premier government medical institutions. From a cancer drug scam in the urology department to questionable stent implants in cardiology and an active broker nexus in ophthalmology, the hospital is grappling with systemic failures that allegedly allowed transactions worth lakhs to bypass multiple layers of scrutiny. While disciplinary action has been initiated against certain employees in individual cases, documents and official records reviewed by HT raise a broader question: how did transactions involving lakhs of rupees, medical procedures and procurement decisions pass through multiple layers of scrutiny without triggering red flags? "We are taking strict action in these cases. Suspensions have been done and further probe will be conducted to ensure such acts are not repeated," said deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak. He added: "Action will continue and I have written to university authorities to ensure that every aspect of any fraud is checked and the guilty are identified." KGMU vice-chancellor Prof Soniya Nityanand said she is committed to impartiality and will not spare anyone found responsible for wrongdoing. The most significant concerns have emerged from the alleged multi-crore cancer medicine scam linked to the Asadhya Yojana in the urology department. According to KGMU officials, the department had been procuring medicines worth around Rs.10 lakh every month under the Asadhya Yojana, which provides free treatment to economically weaker patients. Officials said medicine purchases touched nearly Rs.45 lakh last month alone, raising suspicion within the university administration. Scrutiny of records allegedly revealed repeated procurement of expensive medicines, including cancer drugs, protein supplements and iron supplements, in the names of nearly 40 patients who may be deceased or not on record. According to documents examined by HT, an ad hoc employee was entrusted with generating medicine indents involving high-value cancer drugs worth several lakh rupees. Hospital procedures ordinarily require such responsibilities to be handled by authorised permanent staff or nursing officers. Further scrutiny centred around the role of a doctor who allegedly prescribed medicines and verified indents for a patient whose admission records are now under examination. Documents reviewed by HT indicate that medicines continued to be processed despite emerging questions regarding the patient's treatment history. Officials familiar with the procurement process said medicine indents for admitted patients are first generated by authorised departmental staff and subsequently verified through the hospital's main store system. When medicines are unavailable in stock, purchases are made through the Hospital Revolving Fund (HRF) under local purchase provisions and supplied free of cost under welfare schemes. Despite several officials being part of the approval chain, action so far has largely been confined to a limited number of employees. On Wednesday, KGMU ordered a high-level inquiry into allegations that five stents were implanted in a single patient at the Lari Cardiology department. A 5-member committee has been tasked with examining whether the procedure was medically justified. The inquiry has also been expanded to review treatment records of around 15 patients who underwent stent implantation or other cardiac interventions under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, amid concerns that similar irregularities may have occurred in additional cases. Fresh findings have emerged in the probe into allegations that patients in ophthalmology department are being directed to purchase medicines/cataract lenses from private shops. Investigators found that a doctor in the department performed 244 cataract surgeries over the past six months, but only one was conducted under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Records examined by the inquiry team showed that all remaining procedures were carried out on a paid basis. Officials noted that nearly 50% of cataract surgeries in the department are usually performed under government cashless schemes. Investigation revealed that lenses supplied through the HRF were used in only about 70% of cases. Officials said the expected utilization rate of HRF-provided lenses should be between 95% and 100%. The inquiry team is also examining allegations that patients are encouraged to buy lenses/medicines from private outlets and whether paid surgeries are prioritised over those covered under govt schemes....