Karnataka - Others   

Lokayukta shocked by charge against doctors

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHITRADURGA, NOV. 22. Complaints on demand for bribe, lack of medicines and negligence by doctors greeted the Lokayukta, N. Venkatachala, at the District Hospital here on Monday.

Mr. Venkatachala and his team members, who visited the hospital, were shocked when they were told that Rs. 150 was being collected as bribe from those who underwent tubectomy. Many attendants of patients complained about irregularities in the hospital.

Mr. Venkatachala chided the people stating that they did not bring to the notice of the authorities concerned as soon as they found irregularities. "You just complain to me when I am here," he added.

He also took the officials to task. He told S.R. Umashankar, Deputy Commissioner and chairman of the visiting committee at district hospital, that the meetings with regard to the functioning of the hospital should not be a mere formality. They should be followed up by prompt action. The users' fund of the hospital should be used to provide facilities.

When an attendant of a patient alleged that the doctors collected Rs. 150 as bribe for conducting tubectomy, Mr. Venkatachala remarked: "How can you doctors ask bribe from poor patients? It is a national programme and persons who undergo tubectomy are given incentives. But you people seek bribe, harming the very spirit of the programme.''He asked the district surgeon to take note of the complaint and initiate action against the staff concerned.

H. Sudarshan, Chairman of the Task Force on Health, told the hospital authorities to take action against touts with the help of police. Some people complained about the lack of medicines, disposable syringes and erratic power supply in the hospital. The Lokayukta ordered the authorities of the hospital to make arrangements for proper lighting in all wards.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Lokayukta shocked by charge against doctors
Backward castes told to fight for rights
Symposium on biotechnology
Poompuhar exhibition begins
Man arrested, ornaments recovered

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu