Egg on the face: Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences

Controversies over the past year or so have catapulted the health department into a critical state.

Starting from the drug scam in which the probe committee discovered that medicines were bought at 40 to 400 per cent higher rates than the rates quotes by the State Health Society to the incident at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), where six doctors were found practising privately in spite of receiving non-practicing allowance, glaring lapses has been found everywhere in the healthcare services.

The September 17 episode at Patna Medical College and Hospital in which Roshan Kumar (9), suffering from septicaemia (blood infection), lost his life in the paediatrics department after being denied oxygen by a Grade IV employee is the biggest example of laxity on the part of health officials. Probe held the nurse and the junior doctors on duty also responsible for the death. The department suspended two junior doctors after a month but later revoked it after their colleagues exerted pressure by striking at work.

Earlier, in the IGIMS case also, the department had revoked the termination of five out of its six doctors found indulging in private practice.

Officials of the state drug control administration discovered that drugs worth around Rs 16 crore meant for government hospitals were distributed to a private agency.

At Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, irregularities were detected in the purchase of drugs worth around Rs 1 crore.

The department has also not taken any major initiative to boost private investment in the sector. Though big players such as Medanta and Max showed interest in investing in the sector, the department has lacked follow-up strategy.

The doctors’ community, however, stands divided.

“Why wasn’t action taken against the IGIMS doctors found practising in private?” said Dr A.A. Hai, a surgeon.

Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, the former IMA president and the principal of Bettiah Medical College, said: “Nitish’s departure has shifted the responsibility on the shoulders of people with less experience but the present chief minister also seems to be trying his best to streamline things. The red tape in bureaucracy is neutralising his enthusiasm.”