Kurnool: The District Medical and Health department appears to have found a new way to subvert loopholes in their functioning and has started getting sanctions from the district collector under Hospital Development Society funds. It appears that they have got the ‘pulse’ of the collector.
The administrative officer (finance) at DMHO office is said to be the kingpin in the entire issue. He allegedly masterminded collections from PHCs for sanctions and got kickbacks for securing the release of funds pertaining to 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Of particular importance is the release of funds under National Health Mission for the year 2014-15. Dr U. Swarajya Lakshmi, then DMHO, Kurnool, had instituted an inquiry into the alleged misuse of funds under the National Health Mission vide under RC. No. A3/2012, dated 14-06-2016.
She asked the district employment officer, district minority welfare officer, revenue divisional officer of Nandyal and Kurnool to submit inquiry reports on the utilisation of funds at primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) sanctioned under National Health Mission.
It was learnt that then district collector Ch. Vijaya Mohan, suspecting fraudulent dealings, deferred the sanction of funds. However, with S. Satyanarayana taking over charge as district collector, District Medical and Health officials have found a way to get the amount sanctioned, it is alleged.
There are about 87 primary health centres and 14 community health centres functioning in Kurnool district. Every PHC was sanctioned Rs 1.60 lakh for improving facilities. So this works out to be Rs 176.10 lakh in total. Area hospitals in Nandyal and Adoni were given Rs 2 lakh. The general hospital in Kurnool was sanctioned Rs 5 lakh under the National Health Mission. In all, the HDS release per year worked out to Rs 183.10 lakh.
The hospital development funds were meant to be utilised for improvement of the reception area in community health centres. It was envisaged to club NTR Arogya Seva counter to the OP ticket issue counter at community health centres.
Adequate seating patients and neat facility for the collection of samples from patients were to be undertaken using the money.
