Kulgam, Feb 25: Despite liberal funding under National Rural Health Mission, the Primary Health Centers are in a dilapidated condition in this district.
 Sources said that PHCs in Damhal Hanjipora block of the district lacked medicinal supply and required infrastructure “as the funds meant for the purpose end in the pockets of higher ups.”
 There has been no visible change in the infrastructure of the PHC Manzgam despite allotment of Rs 3 lakh for the current financial year, they said.
 Citing an example sources said the construction material and water-tapes for bathrooms had been purchased allegedly at exorbitant rates while the labor charges for plumber for two days work allegedly had been shown as Rs 8000.
 “Even the cost of an inverter and transformers installed in the health center were fraudulently mentioned high. The health department officials in connivance with the paramedic staff force the concerned officials of the PHC to put their signature on the fraud bills,” sources said. “Quite often the medicines in the PHC go missing in the medical store, as the paramedic staff sells it,” sources said.
 The condition of PHC, Khur Batpora and PHC, Denev in Damhal block is no different with the buildings in a dilapidated condition and lacks sanitation.
 “The ambulances in this block are quite often used to ferry workers of a particular party to rallies and conventions,” residents complained.
 In Kulgam, Qazigund, Yaripora and Qaimoh blocks patients complained of lack of proper infrastructure in PHCs, poor sanitary, unhygienic conditions, insufficient staff and unavailability of medicines.
 “There is only one urinal in PHC Larimganjipora of Qaimoh block and that too without any tape water while the Sadipora PHC is in a rented building without any urinal facility,” said patients.
 Most of the PHC’s face acute shortages of doctors as most of them have been posted in sub-district hospitals due to their alleged political influence.
 “Only one doctor is posted at PHC Khater-Check, located on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway while few of the doctors posted at PHC Waltengoo have been retained in Sub district hospital, Qazigund,” patients alleged.
 The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Muhammad Shafi, who is also the secretary of the District Health Society, assured action on the complaints. “I joined recently and am not aware about the misappropriation of funds. But since you have brought into my notice I will definitely investigate into it.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST