DHS’s stores lying empty, hospitals buying fluid at
exorbitant rates by throwing norms into winds
Nitesh Sangral
JAMMU, Nov 23: The State Government is spending crores
rupees on the salaries of the officials of Health Department and paying out
huge expenditure of their luxurious life by providing vehicles and their fuel’s
expenditure but surprisingly, the performance of the officials is zero as
hospitals are purchasing fluids and other lifesaving drugs at exorbitant rates
because the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) has
failed to provide vital drugs and medicines for last about 7-8 months.
At GMC and other hospitals also, Poor patience’s been
forced to buy essential or commonly used Injectables like Ceftriaxone and IV
Fluids and others. On much higher rates from open market as for last many
months’ hospitals do not have enough supplies of these items. The sad part of
story is that in absence of supplies from JKMSCL which still won’t be able to
execute the supplies fully even by next 3-4 months, the officials in Health and
Medical Education don’t have any sort of either preparedness or coordination to
sort out this vital issue. Rather, blame game is otherwise deteriorating the
situation.
At present, the
government hospital Sarwal and other district and sub-district level hospitals
are facing acute shortage of drugs and fluids. If there is an emergency then
who will responsible for not providing such items timely. And, if any kind of
drug-related stock is available in the hospitals, it is only available for
VVIPs or emergency cases, shortage of these basic things are exposing the
claims of the Health Ministry and its Departments who are enjoying the
luxurious life using fleets of vehicles and allied extravaganzas’.
When contacted
Director Health Services Jammu Dr Gurjeet Singh claimed that the JKMSCL is
providing supplies of the drugs even fluid. On being asked that department’s
stores are lying empty, he didn’t prefer to give an answer and cut the call.
“Taking
advantage of the failure of JKMSL for not providing drugs for last many months
and the drug will not be provided for upcoming 4 to 5 months resulting which
fluid bottle is available between Rs. 14 to 15 but they are buying at
exorbitant rates as Rs 18 to 25 per bottle, “an official of a hospital
divulged, preferring anonymity. He also said the matter is eye-opening that at
how state exchequer’s money are being misused or wasted by some officials
giving benefits to their near and dears just because the JKMSCL has failed to
provide drugs timely.
If we recall,
sources said the JKMSCL has come into existence for stopping backdoor
purchasing and drugs at exorbitant rates but it seems due to lack of knowledge,
incompetence’s and other personal interests, the backdoor purchasing of drugs
at exorbitant rates is running with impunity but Health Ministry and State Government
don’t have time to pay heed toward the misuse of state exchequer's money as
well making smooth functioning of their departments.
It is however a
matter of liberations that in case of meeting the emergencies or for VVIPs /
VIP patients, things been arranged by best efforts of our so-called responsible
officials. But, end-fact is that the funds meant for the purpose of treating
the poor patients being spent on treating the VVIPs / VIPs by our well paid
officials enjoying Govt. amenities not to discharge their actual service
obligations which are also without any accountability, checks or penalties to
their service performances and contributions.
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