Logo

Logo

Anurag Thakur points flaws in healthcare in HP

Taking serious note of shortcomings and lacunae pointed out by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report, Hamirpur…

Anurag Thakur points flaws in healthcare in HP

Anurag Thakur (Photo: SNS)

Taking serious note of shortcomings and lacunae pointed out by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report, Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur on Friday called on Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to rectify flaws in the healthcare system in Himachal Pradesh.

In a letter to CM, Thakur said the performance audit of Reproductive and Child Health programme under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for the year ended March 2016 by CAG has found some critical lacunae in maintaining people’s healthcare.

“HP had received Rs 134.91 Crore for 538 works which were not completed and neither did the money come back to the exchequer. Whereas, 48 works worth Rs 18.25 Crore have been delayed, 22 works worth Rs 12.47 Crore are pending since last three years,” he said, adding additionally, the state government blocked funds worth Rs 19 Crore.

Advertisement

He said the state is said to have no Mobile Medical Units. Moreover, many Public Health Centres are functioning without a doctor, while on the other hand, some PHCs have more doctors than required as per Indian Public Health Standards.

The Rural Health Statistics of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare point to a shortfall of 305 physicians, surgeons and pediatricians. 87 positions for Block Extension Educator at PHCs remain vacant.

Also, several equipments are lying idle because of unavailability of doctors and trained manpower to run them. Delay in replenishment of drug kits and non-availability of ASHA kits has also been noticed in the state. 

He said at a time when the country is going digital on several fronts to bring accountability and transparency to citizens, CAG found that there is no adequate computerisation and recording facilities digitally in HP.

It is important because HP has an infant mortality rate of 35 deaths per 1,000 live births.

“Even in 21st century, are these many deaths fair? HP had 85,591 suspected cases of TB with a rate of change of suspects per lakh at 34 per cent,” he said.

Advertisement