In St. Petersburg, the investigation into the deaths of people during stomach examinations at GBUZ “GKDTS No. 1” is ongoing. The head physician and his subordinates are facing charges and could be imprisoned for up to 10 years.
The Main Investigation Department of the ICR in St. Petersburg has charged Evgeny Popov, the 42-year-old head physician of the city's healthcare institution “City Consultative and Diagnostic Center No. 1”, and two of his subordinates. They are charged with causing death due to negligence and providing services that fail to meet safety requirements, both of which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Evgeny Popov. Photo © vk.com/Nadezhda Sigitova
Investigators say that between January 24 and January 26, six St. Petersburg residents were brought to the hospital in critical condition with signs of poisoning after undergoing gastroscopy and consuming a special solution at GKDC No. 1. This led to the deaths of seven people and injuries to 23 others.
The head physician of GKDC No. 1 was arrested on the night of January 28 amidst a growing scandal. He denies guilt, but investigators claim that he approved the purchase of the substance that caused the deaths. Requests for house arrest were rejected, and he was taken into custody due to fears of evidence tampering and witness intimidation.
Yesterday, the court ordered the arrest of Yulia Medvedeva, head of the radiology department. The investigation believes that she, as a qualified doctor, was aware that the purchased drug was not suitable for medical use but still allowed its use. Medvedeva has admitted partial guilt and claimed she had no involvement in the purchases as there is a separate department for that.
A source in the medical field explained that the head nurse typically completes the applications for medicines and purchase specifications, which are then signed by the head physician. Interestingly, an unnamed nurse was released on bail, likely after cooperating with the authorities and providing information against the accused.
Where is the error?
Barium sulfate used for gastroscopy is not harmful because it doesn't dissolve in water, isn't absorbed into the blood, and leaves the body naturally. However, it must meet specific medical standards to avoid serious consequences, as some forms of barium are still toxic. The state register of medicines includes barium sulfate for fluoroscopy. It has the same chemical formula as industrial barium sulfate, used in varnishes, pastes, glass etching, and lead batteries.
Investigators suspect that GKDC No. 1 bought industrial barium sulfate from Nevareaktiv LLC, which is a major supplier with an annual turnover of 360 million rubles. This substance is not listed in the state register of medicines, despite being labeled as “pure”. An inexperienced employee might mistakenly believe that the substance is suitable for medical use.
The company’s Instagram account published a drug passport with a conclusion on compliance with GOST. Arkady Kamchatov, director of Nevareaktiv LLC, explained that the barium sulfate he sells is intended for production and analytical purposes, not for fluoroscopy. He claimed that the contract with the medical institution did not specify the intended use of the supplied barium. The substance is still available for purchase on the company’s website at a price of 505 rubles per 100 grams.
Photo © instagram.com/nevareakti
It is possible that the error occurred during the formation of the purchase specifications, or someone is trying to cut costs. The price of barium sulfate for gastroscopy is much higher. On pharmacy sites, the approximate price for 80 grams of the substance is 1300 rubles. According to Life’s source, the barium sulfate sold by Nevareaktiv LLC could have been produced at the L.Ya. Karpov facility in Tatarstan.
Who is Evgeny Popov?
Evgeny Popov, 42, is well-regarded by the City Health Committee. He studied medicine at the Military Medical Academy, graduated with honors in oncology, and holds a PhD in Medical Sciences. In 2020, he was a finalist in the All-Russian competition “Leaders of Russia” in the category “Healthcare.”
Evgeny Popov. Photo © vk.com/Nadezhda Sigitova
Colleagues praise Popov's exceptional professionalism, negotiating skills, and other positive qualities. He became the head physician in May 2019, and public purchases significantly increased under his leadership, likely due to the center’s collaboration with the City Health Committee.
© Spark
According to the SPARK database, in the 2000s Popov was involved in business. He was a co-owner of two companies – Garant LLC and Kometa LLC, and also served as the general director of S-COM LLC. Today, these companies are either non-operational or on the verge of bankruptcy. Despite this, Popov is known for being unselfish. He still resides in a small apartment on Kupchinskaya Street and until recently drove a budget Nissan Qashqai SUV.
Popov’s declaration for 2019. Photo © gov.spb.ru
Now he must bear responsibility for the death of seven patients. The surviving victims are preparing lawsuits for the clinic. It is possible that more criminal cases will soon be initiated: at present, the St. Petersburg Health Committee is also checking other medical institutions where toxic barium sulfate could be used.
