Patna, Feb. 27: In a bid to provide greater autonomy to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and encourage community participation in its functioning, the state government has cleared the decks for constituting the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (patient welfare committee) at the health hub.

The panel would empower the hospital administration and the nominated members of the committee to take decisions on better functioning of the hospital. It will also make them accountable for its performance.

Principal health secretary Amarjeet Sinha said Rogi Kalyan Samiti had been established at all the medical colleges of the state except PMCH under National Rural Health Mission to improve and expand healthcare services. “The objective of constituting the Rogi Kalyan Samiti is to put a management structure in place for community participation. It will also ensure cleanliness and refurbishing of the premier health hub of the state. In future, it might introduce user charges to create a strong resource base in the medical institution,” Sinha said.

Sources said people’s representatives, health officials, local district officials, leading members of the community, representatives of Indian Medical Association as well as leading donors would be the members of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti. “There were some issues regarding nomination of the committee members. So its constitution took some time. But now health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey has nominated the members under the superintendent of the PMCH. It will be notified within a few days,” said a senior health department official.

The Rogi Kalyan Samiti would utilise all the government assets and might charge users. It can raise funds through donations, loans from financial institutions, grants from government and other agencies. It will also be responsible for taking over and managing canteens, rest houses, parking lots, ambulance services and other facilities within the hospital complex owned or managed by the government. “Also, private organisations offering hi-tech services could be permitted to set up their units in lieu of providing the services at fixed rates to the Rogi Kalyan Samiti. The funds received would not go to the state exchequer but would be deposited in the bank account of the society. It would be operated by the executive committee constituted by Rogi Kalyan Samiti,” the official said.

PMCH will continue to receive government grants as usual. “There will be no reduction in allocation of funds from the government after the formation of Rogi Kalyan Samiti,” the official added.