 Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 21: The affairs of Kathua Cooperative Medical Shop at district Hospital Kathua have been fraught with ambiguity, with bills of July-August 2019 being issued to customers in the month of April. Ambiguity provides fertile ground for corruption to breed and questions have been raised over the functioning of Kathua Cooperative Medical-shop at district Hospital Kathua, which is frequented by customers round the clock. The Medical Shop has issued cash-memo bills bearing number 97, 98, 99, 100 of dated 21/8/2019. Similarly bills number 45,46, 47, 48 dated 10/8/19 and bill number 93,94,95, 96 dated 20/08/2019 have also been issued to several customers.
Overwriting has been found on the dates of the bills but the original bills as well as carbon copies left with the shop have over-writing on the bills.
Apart from the advance bills most of other affairs of Cooperative Medical Shop Kathua have also messy with no discount provided to the customers. "Most of the private medical shops have been providing discount ranging from 15 % to 40 % but this Cooperative Medical shop didn't give discount and charge as per MRP", a patient said, adding that even they sell generic medicines to the poor customers which was sheer loot. The Medical Shop is inside the hospital premises and just adjacent to the Emergency block. "As per guidelines the shop should remain open round the clock but during night hours, the shop is almost found closed with a small opening from other side", sources said, adding that even the mandated employees were not there during night hours.
Sources further alleged that a nexus has been running there in the shop. "Medicine supplies from private players have been brought and sold from the shop. These supplies are sold separately and not shown in stock-position as well as in sale-entries", sources alleged, adding that despite having huge rush of customers, the shop has been making negligible profit for the last many years but the employees of the shop have been making fortunes. Sources further said that the deputing of over half a dozen employees at the non-profit making shop by the officials was also questionable. Secretary to the Government, Cooperative Department Abdul Majid Bhat said that he would look into the matter and took appropriate action. |
