Etawah : The government hospital cardiologist posted at the UP Medical Science University, Saifai in Etawah district was arrested for implanting substandard pacemakers between 2017-2021 and overcharging the patients. The cardiologist has implanted substandard pacemakers in 600 patients which led to the deaths of nearly 200 patients. It is being alleged that the cardiologist implanted substandard pacemakers as he was lured by commission and sponsored foreign trip.
According to the chief medical superintendent of the UP Medical Science University, Dr. Adesh Kumar, that during the investigation it came to the fore that the cardiologist was using non-MRI cheap quality pacemakers. Also, the cardiologist had replaced regular MRI pacemakers with non-MRI pacemakers by putting stickers of the former on the later. The cardiologist has supplied non-MRI pacemakers to patients at a price several times higher than the actual price charged by the university.
The cardiologist implanting the substandard pacemakers in patients started to gather steam in 2021 when the vice chancellor at the university received multiple complaints, prompting him to order an inquiry. Investigations revealed that the pacemakers were sourced at low prices which led to the then chief medical superintendent of the medical college Dr. Adesh Kumar to file a complaint against Sarraf in December 2021. Further investigations into the matter began in February 2022 and Sarraf was eventually suspended and arrested later. Ever since the news of Sarraf’s arrest hit the headlines, families of a few patients, whose loved ones were treated by him during the four-year period, have come out in the open and slammed him for implanting the faulty devices.
“The accused has been identified as Dr Sameer Sarraf, who is facing charges for implanting substandard pacemakers, financial irregularities and others. He was produced before the special court in Lucknow that deals with the cases lodged under Prevention of Corruption Act 1988,” senior police officer Sanjay Kumar said.
