Private diagnostic centre raided in Cuttack over licence violations and illegal ultrasound tests

A private diagnostic centre in the Mangalabag area of Cuttack was raided on Tuesday by a special team of the State Health Department along with the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), following allegations of regulatory violations.

The action was initiated after complaints alleged that the facility was operating without valid documents and was illegally conducting ultrasound tests.

Allegations of Licence Irregularities

Officials said the raid was carried out as part of a surprise inspection to verify compliance with mandatory norms. Preliminary scrutiny revealed that the diagnostic centre did not possess the valid licences required to operate.

A Health Department official present during the raid said, “We came here for a random inspection to verify the documents. From our initial assessment, the documents available are not valid. The previous owner sold the centre to the current owner after bankruptcy, and from the preliminary investigation, we found that the new owner did not obtain the required licence.”

Verification Underway, Action Likely

The official added that the verification process is still underway. “Once all details are verified, appropriate action will be taken. Operating without a valid licence is unacceptable. In recent times, several diagnostic centres functioning without proper documents have been raided and sealed. This is an ongoing process. If the documents here are found invalid, the centre will be sealed, and a police complaint will also be lodged,” he said.

Responding to queries on whether the department had prior information about the centre, the official clarified that although records are maintained, surprise inspections are conducted regularly to ensure compliance.

Owner Cites Pending Fire Clearance

The owner of the diagnostic centre, however, claimed that efforts were being made to regularise the operations. “We have been applying for fire safety clearance since 2023, but we have not received it yet. We reapplied, but the clearance is still pending,” the owner said.

He further added, “Details of all ultrasound patients are sent to the CDMO office every month. Records of pregnant women undergoing ultrasound are maintained, and receipts are collected from the CDMO office after submitting patient details. Even if the centre is sealed, we will provide all the required documents.”