Burdwan , 18 Mar. 04 :  
A network of touts backed by some local insurance agents are active at the Burdwan Medical College & Hospital. The agents come into act once a patient is admitted specially if with injury due to accident. The patient or their relatives are presented with a visiting card & requested to contact them as they can help in claiming accidental insurance claims.

The network is so strong that they freely move into even the female wards of hospital at the oddest hours in the night. During the recent bus accident near Khandagosh, on 04.02.04 resulting 4 deaths & more than 39 injuries, the touts moved into the Emergency building of the hospital & presented all injured patients with their visiting cards. Even this network is reported to `influence' the relatives of deceased to sign at blank declarations baiting them to help in receiving `insurance claims'. 

The Deputy Super of the hospital, M. Murshed, said "we are aware of such incidents. Once we identify such people, we will definitely hand over them to the police. I personally have started sudden visit at the wards. This will sure keep intruders out of the wards."

Although the administration claim of keeping intruders out of the hospital, the real scenario is quite different. Touts involved with insurance, medicine & private nursing home sectors, have a free entry in the wards all over the day & night with help from the hospital's security personnel. Although the hospital administration has made usage of identity cards a mandatory stuff, hardly anyone uses them till date.