Kanpur hospital authorities launch inquiry after viral video
Authorities in Kanpur have ordered an investigation after a video circulating on social media purportedly showed the driver of a government doctor sitting inside an outpatient department, interacting with patients and writing prescriptions.
The incident was reported at Kanshiram Hospital near Rama Devi Chauraha in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Hospital authorities identified the man seen in the video as Dev, the driver of emergency medical officer Ramkesh.
The allegations have prompted scrutiny over patient safety, access to clinical areas and supervision inside the government hospital. Importantly, the inquiry is still underway, and officials have said the committee will examine the video and other relevant facts before responsibility is fixed.
What Does the Viral Video Allegedly Show?
The video surfaced on social media on Wednesday and purportedly shows a man sitting inside an OPD room, speaking with patients and writing on prescription slips.
Reports said the man appeared to call patients individually, ask about their health complaints and write medicines on their prescriptions. Some reports also alleged that patients were told certain medicines were not available at the hospital and would need to be purchased outside.
These details remain part of the allegations being investigated by hospital authorities.
Doctor Was Away for Court-Related Work
According to hospital staff and officials, emergency medical officer Ramkesh was away attending a court hearing when the alleged incident occurred.
Hospital authorities subsequently identified the person in the video as his driver, Dev. Ramkesh reportedly acknowledged that his driver was the person seen writing a prescription and said he had gone to court to give evidence.
One report quoted Ramkesh as saying that the driver had written medicine for an acquaintance. That account is among the circumstances authorities will have to assess alongside the video and other evidence.
Three-Member Committee Formed
Kanpur Chief Medical Officer Haridatt Nemi said a three-member committee has been constituted to conduct a detailed investigation.
The panel is headed by Chief Medical Superintendent Piyush Mishra and has been asked to submit its report within three days.
“We took serious cognisance of the matter after it came to our notice,” Nemi told PTI.
The committee is expected to determine whether Dev actually examined patients and prescribed medicines, and whether he had allegedly performed such activities on previous occasions.
Authorities Examining How Driver Entered the OPD
The inquiry extends beyond what can be seen in the viral footage.
Authorities are examining how the driver gained access to the OPD, how many patients he attended and whether medicines were prescribed to them. Officials are also investigating whether the alleged practice had occurred previously.
Mishra has sought an explanation from Ramkesh. According to India Today and PTI-based reporting, a written complaint against the driver was also submitted at Chakeri police station.
The driver has since been removed from the hospital, according to an official cited in reports.
Hospital Says Earlier Inspection Found No Outsider
Mishra said an inspection had been conducted at the hospital on Tuesday, before the purported video surfaced, but no outsider was found there at that time.
“The committee will examine the video and other relevant facts before fixing responsibility,” Mishra told reporters.
That distinction is important: while the video has triggered the investigation, the inquiry is intended to establish what occurred, who authorised or enabled access to the OPD and whether any broader administrative lapse took place.
Why the Allegations Raise Patient-Safety Questions
Prescribing medicines is not simply a matter of writing a drug name on a slip. Clinical decisions can depend on a patient’s symptoms, medical history, allergies, existing medication, diagnosis, dosage requirements and potential drug interactions.
That is why the allegation that a non-medical person may have handled patients and written prescriptions raises questions extending beyond staff discipline. The investigation will need to establish the scope of the alleged activity and whether any patients were exposed to inappropriate medical advice or treatment.
Available reporting has not established that any patient suffered harm as a result of the alleged incident.
What Happens Next?
The three-member inquiry committee is expected to examine the viral footage, statements from those involved and circumstances surrounding access to the OPD before determining responsibility.
Authorities are specifically looking at whether the driver examined patients, whether he prescribed medicines, how many patients may have been involved and whether similar incidents occurred previously.
The findings could therefore clarify whether the episode was an isolated unauthorised act or reflected wider failures in supervision and access control at the hospital.
