Health minister Prakash Abitkar during a visit to rural Nanded on Monday
Action will be taken as per rules against negligent officers, with no one to be spared,” he said. “Senior officers including the collector, ZP CEO, health directors and district surgeon must not sit in offices but visit health centres and verify ground reality,” he said. Referrals for minor ailments must be cut, institutional deliveries must increase, pregnant women must receive timely investigations and counselling, adequate stocks essential vaccines and medicines must be maintained round the clock,” Abitkar told health authorities.
The stern warning came after representations from former chief minister and MP Ashok Chavan , MP Dr Ajeet Gopchade, and several legislators, who flagged chronic absenteeism, vaccine and manpower shortages, lack of modern infrastructure, inadequate funding for sub-district hospitals, and demanded strict enforcement of biometric attendance and filling of vacant posts. During an interaction with private medical practitioners, the minister sought their cooperation in ensuring drought-hit citizens in Marathwada received free or affordable treatment under Ayushman Bharat-PM Jan Arogya Yojana and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. The minister later adopted a tougher stance during a review meeting with district health committees, taking serious note of complaints from Mukhed sub-district hospital, Sonkhed and Rahati primary health centres, and Deglur and Pimpalgaon sub-centres regarding absentee doctors, late reporting, shortages of medicines and vaccines and poor facilities. “I have ordered immediate enquiry into every absentee medical officer and employee, with a report to be submitted without delay. Abitkar directed health committees to hold meetings every three months without fail and physically inspect hospitals to monitor staff attendance, drug availability, timely investigations, cleanliness and biomedical waste management. During the tour, Abitkar visited health facilities at Daregaon Tanda, Walkewadi, Dudhad, Sarsam and Himayatnagar, interacting directly with farmers, patients and healthcare workers. At drought-hit Daregaon Tanda, after inspecting crop damage, he instructed health staff to conduct door-to-door health check-ups and counselling and ensure eligible beneficiaries are not deprived of govt schemes. At Dudhad sub-centre and Sarsam PHC, he reviewed ECG and diagnostic services, while at Himayatnagar sub-district hospital he directed officials to ensure timely treatment and uninterrupted availability of essential medicines. “Poor patients must get quality treatment at the local level itself.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: State health minister Prakash Abitkar on Monday warned Nanded ’s public health machinery that no laxity would be tolerated, directing them to show visible improvement in attendance and healthcare services within eight days.