Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 31: Former Congress Minister and OSD to President, PGIMER Chandigarh (Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad), Yogesh Sawhney has alleged that there was nexus between the State Health Department and the managements of some private hospitals whose doctors were involved in private practice in Government hospitals in the State.
Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Sawhney alleged that surprisingly some doctors from top private hospitals of the country were allotted rooms in Govt Hospital Gandhi Nagar and Srinagar as well and allowed to conduct private practice. On the pretext of free consultation, outlets were provided to divert the patients of this State to accord benefit to some selective top private hospitals if any ailment was detected. It was a nexus cleverly executed by some top people in the State Health Department. This practice was however, stopped with the intervention of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who took serious view of it.
Referring to poor utilization and misuse of funds being provided to State by the Central Government under National Rural Health Mission, Sawhney said funds for purchasing Critical Care Ambulances were sanctioned and provided to the State under NRHM. 12 districts were also identified for it in 2009, but State Health Department failed to purchase ambulances till date. Several times tenders were called and then cancelled due to unknown reasons but people left suffering for want of this facility despite that fact that Rs 5.93 crore were sanctioned by the Union Health Ministry.
Commenting on the ‘Janani Suraksha Yojna’ for providing free facilities, medicines, diet and travel charges etc to women at the time of delivery in Government hospitals, Mr Sawhney alleged that people are not getting benefit and they are deprived of these facilities. Many such cases especially in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch and other areas came to notice that funds meant for these women were misused. He termed it as big scam and demanded an inquiry into the matter. People shift patients in hospitals in private vehicles and they are not paid despite clear directions as per guidelines. The forged documents are managed and funds are withdrawn. The people under BPL category are not being provided benefits of Rashtriya Arohya Nidhi (RAN) Scheme and State Illness Assistance Fund. The Union Health Ministry has hiked the funds assistance but many cases are pending for the last several years and not provided assistance. He referred to three cases which are still pending for the last four years in State under RAN.
Mr Sawhney said with the setting up of a special cell and appointing him OSD in PGI by Ghulam Nabi Azad, many patients from the J&K are being helped in Chandigarh. He said at an average 100 to 125 patients per month are being attended through cell and efforts are afoot to raise a `Sarai’ there for the people of this State at Chandigarh. Dogra Sabha Chandigarh is also supporting for the project, he added.
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