Tuesday, February 09, 2016

Surplus doctors in Panchkula: Health Minister seeks report

Indian Express: Chandigarh: Tuesday, February 09, 2016.
HEALTH MINISTER Anil Vij Monday sought a report from the Health Department about state government doctors being posted in Panchkula on demand.
The Indian Express Sunday reported how the Haryana government had made “adjustments” for these doctors either at the office of Director General Health Services or General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, while other districts did not have doctors.
An RTI enquiry filed by a health department official revealed in detail that some doctors got approval from the office of the Haryana Chief Minister and, in one case, a recommendation came from the Panchkula MLA.
Vij said Additional Chief Secretary Health P K Mahapatra has been directed to submit the report within two days.
“Taking cognizance of the news report, I have called for all the facts as to who all are posted at various departments in Panchkula, their stay, at which all places they were transferred and when they returned,” said Vij.
Adding that the details reported by The Indian Express were shocking for him, Vij said, “Gadbad to kar rahe hain (There is hanky panky). Once I get the report, then my office will personally verify all the facts told by these officers so that they may not be able to conceal all the facts.”
After the directions, the Health Department was on its toes. Additional Director General Health Kamla Singh called Chief Medical officer (CMO) V K Bansal and all other doctors, who had come back to Panchkula even after their transfers.
The RTI also detailed how the Haryana government ensured that spouses of those in high positions in the government and senior bureaucrats were “adjusted” in Panchkula and around.
Rekha Singh, MD Radiology who is posted as Deputy Director at the head office since 2009, is the wife of IAS official Avtar Singh. She told The Indian Express that her’s was a “couple case” government jargon for posting a husband and wife in the same place.
Dr Usha Gupta, wife of Principal Secretary in Haryana government T C Gupta, spent 15 years at the Panchkula general hospital, first as Senior Medical officer and later as Principal Medical Officer. In July 2015, she was posted at State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, also in Panchkula. But as Sonia Khullar, wife of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister RK Khullar, was to be adjusted there, Gupta was transferred to the office of Director General Medical Education Research in Sector 2 Panchkula. Khullar is at SIHFW.
The doctor who replaced Usha Gupta as principal medical officer at Panchkula general hospital, Dr Veena Singh, is the wife of IAS Devinder Singh.
Bhawna Chaudhary, who was at the office of DGHS, was transferred to MLA Hostel dispensary as senior medical officer in Chandigarh last year. The hostel has provision for only one such officer, now there are three. She is the daughter of politician K V Singh. The Indian Express called her but she disconnected after hearing the question.
Another doctor who has been at Panchkula for the last 15 years, the RTI details revealed, is SMO Sarita Saroop Yadav. She has been the medical officer at general hospital since 2001 and then SMO since 2009 till date. She too is the wife of an IAS officer. Yadav told The Indian Express that she has already been to various places in Haryana before her posting here.