Berhampur: The Ganjam health administration has suspended seven employees of the community health centre, Kodala, over alleged financial irregularities of around Rs 1.5 crore by making false bills without the medical officer’s knowledge .Those suspended include nursing officer Sarojini Behera, establishment clerk Jatin Kumar Bhuyan, auxiliary nurse midwives Bharati Pradhan and Annapurna Sahu, attendant Ram Chandra Mallick, and sweeper Manu Nayak.A male health worker, Debendra Nath Gouda, who was allegedly involved, died a year ago, sources said.Dr AP Sahu, medical officer of the CHC, confirmed that the suspensions were ordered on March 31 by Bhabani Shankar Mishra, chief district medical officer. Departmental proceedings against the accused are currently underway. But the CDMO did not respond when contacted.The irregularities of the govt funds came to light during an internal audit conducted by the Directorate of Treasury for FY 2023–24, following which the matter was reported to the CDMO. A three-member probe panel, formed by the CDMO, further investigated the issue in Jan.Sources said preliminary findings suggest that the employees fraudulently withdrew arrear funds by fabricating bills without proper sanction.Dr Sahu said that he was unaware of the transactions, as his pen-drive containing the digital signature was with the establishment clerk, who may have misused it. He added hat he had earlier informed the CDMO after suspecting unauthorised use of his digital signature.
