Health Deptt plays with lives of Jammuites; temple city turns haven for illegal clinics

JAMMU:With Bali Bhagat becoming Health Minister, the people of Jammu have heaved a sigh of relief that malpractices in the health sector would be checked but what about bureaucrats, who are known for befooling their political bosses the ways politicians befool their voters after the elections.
On Friday, Jammu was flooded with SMS messages that one Dr. Amarjeet Singh, Associate Director, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Dr. Yeeshu Singh, Consultant, Division of Pediatric Urology and Dr. Rakesh Khera, Director Urology, all from Medanta-Medicity Gurgaon, Haryana shall be treating the patients at the so-called Medanta Centre at 87-A Gole Market Gandhinagar, Jammu on Saturday the 9th of July 2016 from 9.30 AM onwards. The patients were advised through messages to get themselves enrolled for treatment by contacting one, Sudhanshu Sharma on phone No 9419191439.
Attempts of contacting Sudhanshu Sharma proved futile, as the number dialed by STATE TIMES remained unanswered. Instead, another SMS message got circulated via SMS minutes after, asking the desirous people to contact phone number 0191-2458647. The lady attending the landline phone told this correspondent that the fee of each doctor shall be Rs. 700 per patient, per consultation. When asked whether these doctors were registered with Medical Council of Jammu or permitted by the State Government to do practice in the city, the phone was hung with no reply to the query. Pertinent to mention that authorization of the State Government for running such health centres is mandatory.
When contacted on phone, Dr Baljeet Pathania, Director Health Services, Jammu confirmed to STATE TIMES that no such permission has been accorded by the Department to these doctors from outside the State to practice in Jammu and Kashmir. He, however, admitted that between 18 and 20 such unauthorized centres are running in Jammu. He also admitted that no action has been taken against these centers so far.
However, the issue is reported to have been discussed by the Minister for Health and Medical Education and the Commissioner Secretary Health during a recent meeting.
Director Health Services, Jammu had no reply to the observations made by this correspondent that the governmental inaction amounted to playing with the lives of innocent patients. The argument was substantiated by the fact that an accident victim was advised by one of such centres to be shifted to Amritsar but he succumbed to his injuries near Gurdaspur for want of first aid in time. The matter was hushed up  despite hue and cry raised by the family and relatives of the victim for obvious reasons.
On being asked whether these un-authorised centers were running in connivance with the officials of the Health Department, who might be sharing the ill-gotten money with their seniors, Dr Pathania quipped, “I haven’t got any money from these centres.
This correspondent posed a direct question to the Director Health Service, asking, “Sir, you are in knowledge of this illicit trade being carried out by illegal health centres; your staff may or may not be taking money and as you say, you have not also taken any money from them, then what stops you from performing your bonafide duties and taking action against the unscrupulous elements. Should we expect any action tomorrow, the 9th July 2016″. The Director Health Services had no answer except to say, ” Let me see”.
The fate of the hapless Jammuites rests in three word answer of the Director Health Services, “Let me see.”
Meanwhile, sources informed STATE TIMES that about a year or so ago, Jammu Municipal Corporation had seized this Medanta-Mediconsult Center 87-A, Gole Market Gandhinagar but later it was allowed to run without any action, perhaps for some considerations or commitments of monthly share.
According to sources, such un-authorized centers like Apollo Delhi, Fortis Amritsar, Hartej Hospital Amritsar, Hargun Hospital Amritsar and so on, are running in residential areas illegally .Sources further revealed that in addition to the illegal medical practice, many of these centres are dispensing spurious medicines to the patients which otherwise a practitioner cannot. This reflects the active connivance of Drug Controller Department, which is known for its inefficiency for the sole reason of being headed by an Incharge Director, who is actually an Assistant Director, already involved in vigilance case for spurious drugs. –