Adilabad: Some private and government doctors, who earned huge money after charging Covid patients exorbitantly, are now investing the 'money' in real estate.
In Adilabad district, some private hospitals fleeced corona patients, particularly in the second wave.
Political leaders are eyeing a windfall from corporate hospitals by taking advantage of the pandemic situation and anxiety among people. With this idea, some political leaders are planning to establish private hospitals, which they feel are guaranteed money-spinners. In this business, caste also plays a role as does the medical and health department.
Land values have suddenly gone up with the entry of doctors in and around the Adilabad town and in the Adilabad district.
It is observed that some private doctors are offering rates over and above the actual price, thereby skyrocketing land value, especially in Tamsi, Thalamdugu, Bela, Jainad, Adilabad, Adilabad Rural, Boath, Neredigonda and Ichoda mandals.
Even farmers and landowners are increasing the prices of their agricultural and prime commercial lands and plots after knowing about the keenness of doctors to buy lands. Real estate brokers are visiting nursing homes and hospitals to meet doctors to fix mutually beneficial deals.
On the other hand, political leaders are showing interest to set up nursing homes or hospitals by hiring doctors from outside or as a joint venture with them considering the jackpot while treating Covid patients. They want to invest in ‘Covid virus’ keeping in mind a possible third wave.
Already, some local political leaders, irrespective of party affiliation, set up hospitals in Adilabad town and reportedly earned handsome profits.
These developments have, meanwhile, exposed the nexus between private hospitals and political leaders and how they were supporting each other. When remdesivir injections were in short supply, some private hospitals allegedly ‘managed’ to get them during the second wave from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Adilabad.
There are allegations that some government employees working in the medical and health department and also teachers are playing a key role in setting up private hospitals after motivating politicians to invest in the medical field.
In the process, many government employees have emerged as real estate brokers and some of them have started their own ventures. There are strong allegations that the government assigned lands are being used for real estate ventures in certain places.
Some businessmen from Nizamabad and Karimnagar are hiring doctors and establishing hospitals while rural medical practitioners earn commission for referring patients to them.
A private doctor, practicing in Adilabad town, said that political leaders establishing hospitals is a new development.
