Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 22 : Stressing on the need for making e-payment and e-tendering more relevant for procurement of hospital supplies, the state vigilance commission (SVC) has instructed officers of Health and Medical Education Department to evolve a system so that the purpose for which the system and technologies have been introduced in the department are accrued.
These directions were issued in a SVC meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Vigilance Commissioner. The meeting was convened to review the status of complaints and inquiries pending with the Health and Medical Education Department for disposal. There are 394 complaints and 20 regular departmental actions (RDAs) lying with various wings of the department for reply and action. Taking serious note of the negligence of the officers for not coming up with satisfactory reply to the queries, SVC directed them to come in meetings fully prepared with specific and unambiguous replies, enabling it to arrive at the logical conclusion of the matter.
Expressing discontent over the delaying tactics adopted in disposing of complaints and inquiries, SVC warned the officers of severe consequences. The officers were instructed to reconcile the records, if any damaged in floods, with the vigilance organization for early action by the commission. Regarding sale of spurious and substandard drugs in the market, SVC directed the drug controller to mobilize field functionaries of the organization for regular inspections of chemist shops, especially in and around the government and private health institutions. SVC asked the officers to make sure that a common man was not cheated and fleeced by chemists or doctors for their ulterior motives.
Describing eradication of corruption as mandatory, SVC said the guilty would have to pay the price for his wrong doings. It asked CVO to have frequent meetings in the department to monitor the progress of pending complaints and inquiries. The commission, on noticing certain loopholes in tax deduction at source, said it was a grave violation of government norms and directed the officers to ensure that tax was deducted at source as per the standing orders of finance department.
To curb the illicit practice of demanding bribe in government-run health institutions, especially in maternity hospitals, SVC instructed the officers of health department to strengthen surveillance system by installing adequate number of CCTV cameras at vulnerable points so that 'corrupt' employees were identified and punished as per law. Earlier, the officers briefed SVC about the steps taken by them to dispose of complaints, inquiries and RDAs and for the introduction of e-tendering and e-payment system. Vigilance commissioner Gous-Ul-Nisa, additional secretary, H&ME, Secretary, SVC, Controller, Drug and Food Control Organization, Administrator, Associated Hospitals and other senior officers of health, ISM and SVC were also present in the meeting. |
