Beed District hospital in pathetic condition : Four years delay in setting up an inquiry committee, no report yet

Administration’s indifference despite an attention motion presented in the legislative council in 2015

Mumbai – In the State Legislative Council’s monsoon session held in 2015, an attention motion was tabled regarding issues at the Beed District hospital such as carelessness towards patients, doctors’ posts lying vacant, lack of medical equipment, inadequate facilities etc. While answering the motion, the then health minister Deepak Sawant had promised to conduct an inquiry and present its report in the following session. It has been found by Pritam Nachankar, a reporter of ‘Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’ under the ‘Right to Information (RTI) Act’ that even after nine years, the report is yet to be presented in the House.

Another shocking matter is Minister Sawant, though promised to submit the report in the following session, took four years to set up the inquiry committee. The committee was set up in June 2019. In a sensitive matter like health, and despite the attention motion, the issue remains unresolved even when hundreds of patients visit the District hospital daily for treatment. The apathy exhibited is quite unfortunate. The then NCP MLA Amarsinh Pandit and others presented the attention motion on 21st July 2015 in the Legislative Council.

Former Maharashtra Health Minister Deepak Sawant

Possibility of suppression of the matter citing absence of final report

In the reply sent to Pritam Nachankar by the Public Health Department, it is stated that the report is not yet finalised. It will be tabled in the State Legislative Council when it is ready, but nothing can be disclosed before it is tabled. Therefore, it is possible that this matter is being deliberately suppressed. There is also possibility of corruption, and responsible people are being protected.

Serious issues listed in the attention motion on Beed District hospital

The local administration and elected representatives had asked to fill the vacant posts of doctors and other medical staff, but no action has been taken. A private company is extending facilities such as CT scans, MRI, sonography, X-rays, etc., instead of hospital management. Permission to construct a new hospital with 200 beds on the premises of the District hospital has been granted, but the work has not yet started. Facilities are inadequate even in hospitals at Gevrai, Kej, Parli, etc. The ‘Trauma Care Unit’ is not operational, although the construction work is complete. Patients going to the District hospital are given minor treatment and sent to private doctors. A bribe is demanded to get a renewal of the handicapped certificate. Handicapped certificates are sold to non eligible persons. Staff openly demands bribe for providing medical treatment. Patients have to visit private hospitals due to inadequate equipment and facilities at the District hospital.

Forget 90 days, no action on attention motion even after 9 years

It is mandatory to take action on an attention motion presented in the Legislative Assembly within 90 days. There is a committee of ministers to comply and take action to fulfil promises given in the Legislative Assembly; however, no action has been taken even after nine years, on the important issue related to the health and pathetic condition of the District hospital.

Editorial Perspectives

It is shameful for the State administration that action has not been taken for nine years on an important decision of the State Legislative Council. The Government should take stringent action against those responsible for negligence.