PRIVATE CLINICS UNDER SCANNER;Bali hints crackdown; gears police, health officials

LI B STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Taking cognizance of mushroom growth of illegal clinics, run by Delhi based hospitals and perceived as death traps in Jammu, and complaints about patients being lured of low cost treatment packages in reputed health institutions, Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat on Sunday hinted at stern action, saying the police and health official have been asked to initiate measures against these so-called health centre as per law.
Soon after attending the crucial cabinet meeting in Srinagar, the minister told STATE TIMES, “I have directed the health department to prepare a list of all such clinics which are misleading the people”.
“Such malpractices will not be tolerated; action will also be taken against the officers of the health department found supporting and shielding these ‘death trap’ centers,” Bali said.
“I know certain health department officers are on pay rolls of these money minting clinics. I will get them booked and prosecuted through the Vigilance,’ Bali asserted.
Pertinently, the Directorate of Health Services is maintaining silence over the issue since long as several officers are allegedly on the pay rolls of such these illegal clinics.
One of the victims, who landed in the trap of one of the Jammu based touts of a Delhi based hospital, said, “I was told that my knee surgery will cost only Rs 2 lakh, including expenditure on medicines. However, I was charged four times more.
Commercialisation of medical sector to this extent has burdened those who are already passing through tough times due to various ailments, he said.
Under rules, a doctor has to get registered with the Health Department to start private practice. However, the much publicised doctors keep visiting Jammu unabated to trap patients and to give fillip to the business of Delhi based private hospitals.
Recently, Health Minister Bali Bhagat had ordered ban on the private practice of Heads of Departments of various disciplines in health sector. However, it remains a big question as to why there is no check on the practice of all the doctors, who come to the winter capital to befool the patients.
In J&K, private nursing homes are also running under a well-knit conspiracy. On the court orders, many nursing homes took the plea of having less than 2 kanal land and continued their working. However, on other fronts like proper OTs, oxygen facilities, hygienic canteens and kitchens besides up to mark bio- waste management system, most of the Jammu Nursing Homes are befooling the people, said a retired officer of Health Department.
Under the cover of court stay, nursing homes in J&K are making huge money; courtesy Health department. “Whosoever is posted in the Health Department to check illegal trade of private Nursing Homes and clinics just waits for his retirement and makes lot of money,” the retired officer said.