Viral Video Triggers Probe Into Alleged Extra Official Charges at SDH Surankote

Patient Alleges Rs. 1,000 ‘Doctor’s Fee’ for Minor Surgery; Surgeon Denies Charges, BMO Says Inquiry Will Establish Facts

Viral video alleges a patient was charged an additional Rs. 1,000 as a “doctor’s fee” after a minor surgical procedure at Government SDH Surankote, triggering public outrage.
Surgeon Dr. Abbas Choudhary dismisses the allegations as “completely baseless”, while the Health Department orders a formal inquiry into the incident.
BMO Surankote Dr. Mohd. Yousaf Choudhary says the matter is under investigation and suggests the controversy could also be linked to rivalry between private medical shops.

JJ Correspondent
Poonch, July 26, 2026: A controversy has erupted in Poonch District after a viral social media video alleged that a patient was charged an extra ?1,000 as a “doctor’s fee” following a minor surgical procedure at the Government Sub District Hospital (SDH), Surankote, prompting the Health Department to launch a formal inquiry into the matter.
The incident has sparked widespread debate on transparency and accountability in Government healthcare institutions, where medical treatment is expected to be provided either free of cost or at highly subsidised rates.
According to the patient, the controversy began after he visited SDH Surankote for treatment of a small cyst or lump. Before approaching the Government hospital, he had reportedly consulted a private clinic in the Pir Panjal region, where the minor surgical procedure was estimated to cost ?500. Believing that treatment at the Government hospital would be more economical, the patient opted to undergo the procedure there.
The patient alleged that after the procedure, he was advised to collect prescribed medicines and related items from a nearby private medical shop. While the medicines reportedly cost ?680, he claimed that he was presented with a total bill of ?1,680. According to the patient, when he sought a detailed explanation, he was allegedly informed that the additional ?1,000 represented a “doctor’s fee” linked to the procedure.
Questioning the alleged demand for an additional payment at a Government hospital, the patient recorded a video outside the hospital premises displaying the prescription and bills. The video soon went viral on social media, with the patient appealing to senior health authorities, including Block Medical Officer (BMO) Surankote Dr. Mohd. Yousaf Choudhary and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Poonch, to investigate the matter. He alleged that such practices, if true, would impose an unjust financial burden on poor patients dependent on Government healthcare facilities.
Later, the patient released another video clarifying that he had inadvertently referred to the wrong doctor in his initial recording. He stated that the surgeon concerned was Dr. Abbas Choudhary, a Surgeon at SDH Surankote, and maintained that his grievance was not directed against any individual personally but against the alleged practice of charging extra official fees from patients receiving treatment in Government hospitals.
When contacted by Jammu Jottings, Dr. Abbas Choudhary strongly denied the allegations.
“All the allegations being made are completely baseless. My senior officers, including the BMO Surankote, are conducting an inquiry. Whatever comes out of it will clarify things,” he said.
Jammu Jottings also contacted Block Medical Officer (BMO) Surankote Dr. Mohd. Yousaf Choudhary, who confirmed that the matter had come to his notice and that a formal departmental inquiry had already been initiated.
Dr. Choudhary said that all aspects of the case were being examined objectively and that the inquiry report would place the complete facts before the competent committee. He also observed that, at this stage, one possible angle being looked at was whether the controversy could have arisen due to rivalry between private medical shops, though he stressed that no conclusions would be drawn until the inquiry was completed.
Following the circulation of the viral video and the public concern it generated, the Health Department has initiated a fact-finding exercise to verify the sequence of events, examine the allegations regarding billing through an outside pharmacy and determine whether any irregularity occurred.
Officials are expected to scrutinise the medical records, prescriptions, billing details and statements of all concerned before arriving at any conclusion.
The incident has drawn considerable public attention across the Pir Panjal region, with many residents demanding greater transparency and accountability in Government hospitals. Civil society members have urged the Directorate of Health Services to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and issue clear guidelines to ensure that patients are not subjected to any unauthorised financial demands while availing treatment at public healthcare institutions.
As the inquiry progresses, health authorities have maintained that the truth will emerge only after a thorough investigation and that appropriate action, if any irregularity is established, will be taken strictly in accordance with law and departmental rules.