ACC raids National Heart Institute over alleged overcharging for stents

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has conducted an operation at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital in Dhaka over allegations that coronary stents were being sold to patients at prices above those fixed by the Directorate General of Drug Administration.

The ACC Enforcement Unit launched the operation following complaints of overcharging for stents, collecting excess payments from patients and harassment or irregularities in providing services, ACC Assistant Director (Public Relations) Tanzir Ahmed said Sunday (September 20).

During the operation, the ACC team randomly collected records of several patients who had recently undergone coronary stent procedures at the hospital. The documents are being examined to compare the listed prices of the stents with the amounts charged to patients.

The team also spoke to patients currently admitted to the hospital after undergoing stent procedures to determine whether they faced any irregularities or harassment while receiving treatment.

The ACC said it would review the documents and information collected during the operation and prepare a detailed report for submission to the commission.