Capital Hospital users’ fee scam

Health Min’s data in Assembly differs from RTI info

--Around Rs 47 lakh varies from Minister’s figure

BHUBANESWAR: The Government has presented inappropriate information in the State Assembly regarding the collection of Users’ Fee from the patients at the Capital Hospital between 2007 and 2012, alleged the Bhubaneswar Bikash Manch (BBM) here on Tuesday.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Damodar Rout’s data and the RTI information about the Users’ Fee collection have a gap of around Rs 47 lakh which has raised many eyebrows on the authorities of the hospital, Manch members said.

According to the RTI information provided by the Public Information Officer of the Capital Hospital, Rs 4, 82, 44,281 was collected as Users’ Fee from the patients, but the Minister stated that a sum of Rs 4, 36, 20,995 was collected during the last five years. The Minister presented the data in the Assembly while answering a question of MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy on collection and expenditure of the Users’ Fee in the Capital Hospital.

In a separate question by MLA Nihar Ranjan Mahananda in the Assembly on the ambulance service and its staff, the Minister answered that five drivers were engaged for five ambulances in the Capital Hospital. But the RTI information revealed that three drivers were engaged for eight ambulances. This has created doubt about the functioning of the hospital ambulance service and the State Government’s interest to help the poor patients, said Manch general secretary Ganesh Das.

“We ask the Government, which information is correct? If the Health Minister is correct, the Government should take appropriate action against the Capital Hospital PIO according to the RTI Act for supplying false information to the public,” said Das, adding, “If the RTI information is correct, it is proved that the Minister has misled the august House by presenting false information.”

BBM members demanded a high-level inquiry into the financial irregularities in the Capital Hospital and take proper action against the hospital authorities for hiding information fearing the auditor.