kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata’s premier state-run medical institution, SSKM Hospital, has been rocked by a startling theft of orthopedic medical equipment worth several lakhs of rupees from its Trauma Care Unit, raising serious concerns over internal security and access control within one of the city’s busiest healthcare facilities. Four days after the incident came to light, police arrested the accused, identified as Pranab Haldar, a resident of Kulpi in South 24 Parganas, who allegedly gained entry into the hospital by misusing an old company identity card.

According to hospital sources, the theft was detected on Monday morning at around 8 am when a nurse on duty noticed that several orthopedic implants and related medical items were missing from the Trauma Care Centre. The stolen equipment reportedly included costly orthopedic implants that are routinely used in critical surgical procedures. The missing items have not yet been recovered, intensifying concerns about whether the equipment has already been sold in the grey market.

Investigators from Bhawanipore Police Station immediately began probing the matter after being alerted by hospital authorities. CCTV footage from inside the hospital premises was carefully examined, leading to the identification of the accused. Police sources revealed that Haldar was not a hospital employee but had previously worked for a company that supplied orthopedic implants to the hospital. His prior professional association had allowed him frequent access to the premises, and he was known to several hospital staff members.

On the day of the incident, Haldar allegedly entered the Trauma Care Unit by presenting an identity card from the orthopedic implant supplier company. However, during the course of the investigation, the company informed the police that Haldar was no longer employed with them. Despite this, investigators claim he managed to use the outdated ID card to gain entry, exploiting familiarity and existing contacts within the hospital.

Police officials are now examining whether this was an isolated incident or part of a larger pattern. Investigators are probing if the accused had committed similar thefts in the past, either at the same hospital or elsewhere. His connections with certain staff members are also under scrutiny to determine whether there was any collusion or negligence involved.

The incident has exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the hospital’s security protocols, particularly regarding verification of vendor credentials and access to sensitive medical storage areas. In a high-footfall government hospital like SSKM, where multiple vendors and suppliers enter daily, strict identity verification and real-time employee status checks are crucial. The fact that a former employee could allegedly walk in using an outdated identity card and remove expensive equipment undetected has triggered internal reviews.

Hospital authorities have assured that they are cooperating fully with the police investigation and are reviewing their internal systems to prevent such breaches in the future. Meanwhile, the arrest of Pranab Haldar has provided some relief, but the missing equipment remains untraced.

The case stands as a stark reminder that even premier public healthcare institutions are not immune to security lapses. The focus now remains on recovering the stolen medical supplies and tightening surveillance to ensure that patient care infrastructure is not compromised by criminal exploitation of institutional trust.