The deep-rooted corruption in government hospitals and the need for measures to expose such lapses came into focus in the Legislative Council here on Wednesday when a TRS member Balasani Laxminarayana shared the inhuman attitude of a government doctor in the House.
Narrating his experience during the Question Hour when several members sought to know about the existing facilities in government hospitals and the need to upgrade them, Mr. Laxminarayana said a person known to him was involved in a fatal road accident. But it took the MLC several hours of persuasion to get the post-mortem done by a doctor and the body released.
Mr. Laxminarayana with help of another MLC B.Venkateswarulu finally could bring a government doctor to the district hospital but the doctor refused to perform the post-mortem till ₹3,000 was paid even as the grief stricken family was waiting to take the body. “We were told that normally they charge ₹5,000 to ₹6,000,” he said.
“If it is so difficult for two MLCs to get the service from government hospitals, then what will be the fate of common people. I am embarrassed to share this unfortunate incident in the House but I am compelled to speak about it to bring to the notice of government for corrective action,” he said.
The MLC suggested that government which was spending huge funds to improve facilities in government hospitals and cater to large number of people should have CCTVs and other facilities to monitor functioning of doctors and other staff in the hospitals. Health Minister Laxma Reddy termed the incident unfortunate and assured action to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The number of patients visiting government hospitals increased significantly and the institutional deliveries increased from 40 to 54 % thanks to KCR Kits. Members K. Janardhan Reddy, Poola Ravinder and others said the bed strength in government hospitals be increased in proportion to growing number of patients. At present there were 25,251 beds in government hospitals in the State and another 4,263 beds were proposed, Minister said.
He also agreed to consider request to set up six more wellness centres in addition to existing four centres in every erstwhile district headquarters for the benefit of employees. Members said only one to two % of knee replacement, liver and kidney transplant surgeries were done in Osmania, Gandhi and NIMS and wanted facilities in district hospitals too. to perform such surgeries. TRS Whip Paturi Sudhakar Reddy suggested that medicines for all diseases should be stocked in wellness centres as retired government employees would come to these centres from far off places.
