By ND Sharma
The health department of Madhya Pradesh government was recently honoured by Vice-President Hamid Ansari at a function held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi for its “excellent performance” in the rural areas of the state. Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad must be endowed with an extrasensory vision to perceive the MP health department’s “excellent performance” (which ordinary mortals of the state have failed to see) and recommend it for the award. The health department of Madhya Pradesh government tops the list of those whose scams have of late come to light.
Following income tax raids, the health minister of the state was made to resign, its director was suspended (with 10 cases against him) and the one who succeeded him was also suspended because of his involvement in the scam (he also faces seven cases of corruption). So was the health commissioner. The present secretary to the health department, who led the department’s team to receive the award from the Vice-President, is also facing a departmental inquiry for indulging in corrupt activities.
According to a survey made by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), an affiliate of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the state government has not opened even a single primary health centre in the past six years in spite of an increase in population. In government hospitals, there is only one bed for 2,425 patients. As many as 1,300 posts out of a total sanctioned strength of 5005 doctors in hospitals are lying vacant.
However, more than 30 officers and employees of the department flew to Delhi to receive the award.