Three men were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly running a tout racket at Kolkata’s state-run SSKM Hospital, where they targeted patients and families waiting in long queues and sold outpatient department tickets at inflated prices.
The arrests followed an internal inquiry initiated after a complaint by Pijush Kumar Roy, the hospital’s medical superintendent and vice-principal. Bhowanipore Police arrested Ashad Ali, 21, of Chamrukhan Lane in Karaya, and Md Sahid, 24, and Vihid Ahmed, 39, both from Begam Rupiya Sarani in Sankrail, Howrah.
According to the police, the accused approached patients and their relatives waiting outside the OPD and offered to help them obtain tickets quickly. The men allegedly charged more than the official ticket price while presenting the service as a way to avoid the hospital’s queues.
A physical OPD ticket at the hospital counter costs Rs 2. Online registration through the state government’s portal is free, but police said the touts continued to exploit patients who were unaware of the digital registration option.
The case highlights how the gap between formal access systems and patients’ knowledge of them can create opportunities for intermediaries around high-volume public hospitals. At SSKM, patients who are unfamiliar with online registration or unable to navigate the process may depend on people outside the official system while waiting for care.
The complaint from the hospital administration triggered the internal inquiry before the arrests were made. Police identified the three men as alleged participants in the ticket-selling operation, while the hospital’s existing counter-based and online registration arrangements remain the official channels for obtaining OPD access.
The arrests come as public hospitals continue to manage large patient queues through a combination of physical counters and online systems. In this case, the difference between a Rs 2 physical ticket, free online registration and the higher amount allegedly demanded by the touts formed the basis of the reported exploitation.
Police said touts continue to target patients who are not aware of the online booking facility. The investigation and further legal proceedings will determine the charges and the full scope of the alleged racket.
