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Woman caught posing as doctor at Vijayawada GGH

Vijayawada: A woman was apprehended by hospital security at Vijayawada new Government General Hospital (GGH) on Wednesday night for posing as a doctor and allegedly collecting money from relatives of Covid-19 patients in exchange for information about the patient’s health.

Relatives of Covid-19 patients receiving treatment at the hospital claimed that lack of information is allowing such impostors to thrive.



Differentiating between hospital staff and outsiders has become a challenge for security personnel at Covid-19 hospitals as all staff and sanitation workers wear PPE suits. Taking advantage of the situation, a woman calling herself Dr Sailaja entered the premises of the hospital and interacted with patients’ families waiting outside.

The impostor then went on to promise the families that she would inform them of the patients’ health and assured them that patients would receive quality treatment. Noticing the woman, security staff immediately intimated the hospital superintendent who informed the police. Machavaram police reached the hospital and took the woman and her husband into custody.

Relatives of Covid-19 patients alleged that the government had not set up helplines to track the health of patients.

“We had admitted my nephew to hospital three days ago and have received a call only once from the hospital authorities explaining the condition of the patient. I’m worried and came to the hospital to enquire about his health but no one is responding here. Fake doctors and other hospital staff have started to collect money taking advantage of our situation. The district administration should take the issue seriously,” said Rama Krishna from Challapalli.

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