Medics arrive to take blood samples of residents of Spanish Garden residential complex after a COVID-19 positive case was detected in an apartment, in Guwahati

The Indian authorities have recently uncovered instances of fake COVID-19 medical certificates surfacing in India.

Earlier this month (4 Sep), a Delhi-based doctor, Dr Kush Parashar, and his aide were arrested for issuing fake COVID-19 certificates (‘Delhi: Doctor held for issuing fake Covid-19 certificates‘).

After collecting swab samples from suspected COVID-19 patients or people seeking the COVID-19 tests for employment or travel reasons, the doctor would discard their samples and issue them fake test results in the names of at least three diagnostic laboratories, certifying that they are COVID-19 free.

The doctor and his aide have issued at least 75 of such fake COVID-19 certificates, charging people who came for the test Rs2,400 (S$44) each.

“Their cover was blown, when one of the recipients of the test results found a mismatch in his name and contacted the diagnostic centre to learn that the latter didn’t issue any such result,” Delhi Police told the media. It was the diagnostic centre which reported the matter to the police.

Dr Parashar is said to have a postgraduate degree in medicine from Russia.

Indian government hospital also involved

Not only a private clinic was found to been involved in issuing fake COVID-19 certificates, a government public hospital in the Indian State of Uttarakhand was also involved.

Last Wed (16 Sep), news emerged that a government hospital in Uttarakhand had allegedly issued Out-Patient Department (OPD) slips to people, certifying that they are free of COVID-19 (‘Uttarakhand Hospital Issues Fake Covid-Free Certificates, Probe Ordered‘).

It did so without conducting any COVID-19 tests, prompting the state government to launch an inquiry into the matter. Many of such fake certificates were issued to migrant workers who wanted to go to other districts in search of work.

The matter came to light when a government doctor was caught issuing the fake COVID-19 certificates for money.

When contacted Uttarakhand Chief Secretary said a detailed enquiry is being ordered into the matter. The probe will seek to find out for how long the racket was going on at the hospital and how many doctors were involved in it, the Chief Secretary said.

Fake COVID-19 certificates circulating in State of Kerala

In another Indian State of Kerala, the state’s Health Minister K.K. Shylaja warned today that actions will be taken to deal with the issuance of fake COVID-19 certificates (‘Issue of fake COVID certificates: Minister warns of action‘, 21 Sep).

She said that stringent action will be taken against those involved in the distribution of fake COVID-19 test certificates.

The Kerala state authorities has recently unearthed the circulation of forged COVID-19 documents, which were made to appear as those issued by the Pozhiyoor primary health centre (PHC). The seal of the PHC on the fake certificates was found to have been forged.

The fake certificates were allegedly sold to fishermen at rates ranging from Rs2,000 to 3,000 (S$37 to 55) in order for them to fish in other places such as Neendakara, Kochi and Beypore.

Condemning the act, Shylaja cautioned that such illegal activities would lead to the uncontrolled spread of the infection. The Pozhiyoor police had been directed to probe the incident and book those responsible under the Kerala Epidemic Diseases Ordinance 2020, she said.

Travellers from India need to take COVID-19 tests before arriving in Singapore

According to a press statement from the Singapore’s Health Ministry (MOH) on 9 Sep, it said that MOH has been “closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in India”.

MOH added that travellers from India, who are not Singaporeans or PRs, will be required to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours before departure.

“Travellers will need to present a valid negative COVID-19 test result as a condition of approval to enter Singapore. This requirement will take effect for those arriving in Singapore from 17 September 2020, 0000 hours, and will apply on top of the existing requirements of a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) at dedicated SHN facilities and a negative COVID-19 test before the end of their SHN,” MOH said.

However, given the emergence of fake COVID-19 certificates in India, it’s not known if MOH has encountered any of such certificates from those travellers entering Singapore.

 

Subscribe
Notify of
23 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

大学生抱怨智能邮箱构思遭抄袭 新邮政否认

新加坡科技设计大学一名学生抱怨,新加坡邮政(Singpost)涉嫌在智能邮箱上抄袭他的概念,反映了我国“创新的可悲一面”;不过新邮政今午发文否认,他们没涉及任何抄袭行为,并表示早在今年1月他们就已开发智能邮箱的原型。 正在攻读产品开发专业的工程学学士学位及技术创业的研究生学位的梁腾达(Jerry,Theng Tat Neo),于昨日(9月26日)在其Linkedln上发布帖文,上载其团队所设计的,相关智能邮箱的销售简报等资料,并指新邮政涉嫌抄袭他们的概念。 他公开有关他和一名据称是新邮政副执行长的“Ngiam”之间在whasapp上的对话信息。在五月份的对话中,梁滕达告诉Ngiam,他们看到智能邮箱这个项目的潜能,询问后者是否有意继续合作,也同意可以进行改动、提升或制作新的原型。 不过后者表示,新邮政已经开始自己的设计;在5月7日Ngiam则回复到基于需求不同,可能不会是合作项目,不过希望等梁考完试后可以进一步探讨他们的项目。 梁腾达表示,自己并没有受到新闻的影响。“我告诉我的团队,我们已经证明了自己是创新者,但是当我看到《亚洲新闻台》中,新邮声称自己是世界上首个创新是……我难以置信。” 他认为我国国民不愿创新和冒险,就是因为有类似的剽窃概念行为,“这正是本地创业无法蓬勃发展的原因”。 新邮政:今年1月已开发 针对有关的指控,新邮不愿对智能信箱是盗窃大学生构思的说法置评,仅表示学生和新邮接触的一个月之前,就已开始有关的开发。 新邮发言人表示,智能邮箱开发工作已经于今年1月开始,就是在和梁腾达其小组接洽的前一个月。 他指出,他们从来没有在反复过程或和原型供应商分享上,使用梁腾达团队的设计,而且后者也没有参与智能信箱的设计和制作。…

Panic buying undermines international confidence in Singapore says Minister Chan Chun Sing

On Sunday, Trade and Industry Minister, Chan Chun Sing, cautioned that panic…

MARUAH expresses concern about cancellation of approvals for Speakers’ Corner event

Local Non-government Organisation, MARUAH expresses their concern over the cancellation of approvals…

Search teams still scouring the Java Sea for what’s left of Lion Air flight JT 610

On Monday, Lion Air flight JT 610 crashed into the sea just…