Punjab Cong concerned over collapse of primary health services in state
Wednesday, 10/07/2013
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/punjab-cong-concerned-over-collapse-of-primary-health-services-in-state/82465
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress today expressed deep concern over collapse of primary health services in the state and blamed SAD-BJP government for total mismanagement of available resources. They also demanded a high level probe by center government into misutilization of central funds given to health department.
In a statement issued here PPCC Vice Presidents Charanjit Singh Channi, Om Parkash Soni, Tarlochan Singh Soond, Gurpeet Singh Kangar and party general secretary Fateh Jung Sing Bajwa in a joint statement said that primary health services in Punjab were at receiving end and majority of hospitals and Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in the state were on the verge of closure. They said that poor people living in villages and small towns had no excess to health facilities.
They said that SAD-BJP government's decision to promote only 100 district and sub division hospitals has played havoc with the health services at grass root level. They said that medical and Para-medical staff from most of sub-division hospitals and PHCs was transferred to designated hospital bringing the emergency services to halt. They said that poor people were left with no choice other than approaching private hospitals for even minor ailments.
The Congress leader said that SAD-BJP government was conspiring to hand over the existing infra-structure of government hospitals and PHCs to private players and running away from its fundamental duty of providing health services to all citizens. They said that sign boards of 'Emergency Services Not Available' were hanging outside PHCs due to non-availability of doctors.
They said that center government was sending huge funds under National Rural Health Mission to expand the primary health services but SAD-BJP government was working contrary to spirit of the Rural Health Mission. They apprehended that central funds under Rural Health Mission were being misutilized on non-productive items where as the patients were crying for life saving drugs.
The Congress leaders said that a survey done by doctors of Baba Farid Medical University presented a shocking picture of the health system in Punjab. They said that the health budget has slipped down from 12 to 4 percent of plan budget; the number of civil hospitals has come down from 144 to 67 and dispensaries reduced to 139 from 196. Against 4206 Health Sub centers, Punjab has only 2882; the number of PHCs is 466 against need of 685. Only 114 Community Health Centers are working against requirement of 176. There is shortage of 85 percent beds in the rural hospitals and the number of rural hospitals has come down from 125 to four only, they said.
Congress leaders asked the Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal about the details utilization of central funds under National Rural Health Mission. The center government had given Rs.1284 crores to Punjab under NRHM since the year 2007 when SAD-BJP government was formed. Had these funds been used properly, Punjab would have been best model of health services in the country. They said that in the year 2012-13 the state government was able to utilize only 60 percent of the central grant.
They said that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was happy with his picture on the center sponsored 108 ambulance service and not concerned over plight of poor people. They demanded to fill the vacancies of doctors and Para-medical staff in the health department, create separate cadre for specialist doctors and revive the rural hospitals, PHCs and dispensaries in rural areas.
