Rajindra hospital authorities still in process to sort out RBSK fiasco

Rajindra hospital authorities still in process to sort out RBSK fiasco

Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ August 21,2023

“Medical Superintendent (MS) office of Govt Rajindra Hospital is not providing us the required documents of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) scheme, willingly or un willingly. These documents are demanded by the higher authorities and their casual behaviour is delaying the process of sanctioning the budget, treatment to the children registered under the scheme” said an officer of the civil surgeon office, Patiala on the condition on anonymity.

From the last few months, children of around 7-8 districts of Punjab enrolled with Government Medical College, Patiala under RBSK scheme are suffering as they are not getting any medicine, proper treatment from the Rajindra Hospital or the empanelled medicine supplier as the supplier has stopped giving the medicine due to non-clearance of their pending dues and the non-availability of medicines at Jan Aushadhi Kendra of the Rajindra Hospital.

As per available information, Civil surgeon office has repeatedly asked the MS Office of Govt Rajindra Hospital for reports of RBSK patients examined by nodal officers of 6 different departments namely eye, ENT, orthopaedics, cardiology, plastic surgery and paediatrics differently.

“Since 2014 this scheme is going on and it seems no proper records has been maintained by the individual department, that’s why the authorities are not cooperating  “ said an official on the condition of anonymity.

They further added that “Medical superintendent office is not providing details of patients examined by eye, ENT, orthopaedics, cardiology, plastic surgery and paediatrics differently,  MOU of scheme not being given by medical superintendent, he is not providing the original list of 6 RBSK nodal officers appointed by Punjab government in 2014 of different departments.”

As per sources the  authorities has asked the MS,Rajindra Hospital to “submit the files closed cases during period of 2021 to 2023 of all departments, the copy of the MOU and tender with chemists / medical stores for procuring medicines by MS Office , names of nodal officers of RBSK of different departments during 2021 to 2023.”

“It’s a point to check that when the RH is not doing surgeries of RBSK patients and still claiming lacs of rupees for reimbursements” said a doctor on the condition of anonymity.

As per sources, the recently MS has changed them on his own. The director health services, Punjab is sending reminder to the medical superintendent (MS) of the Govt Rajindra Hospital to submit the documents and take the next grant.

In a latest , director health services, Punjab has sent a reminder to the MS of Govt Rajindra Hospital on August 17,2023 asking him to send the “ Details with reference to utilization of the earlier installment “ and “ Comments with reference to utilization of the earlier installment that whether the same is as per the norms of the programme” so that previous payments can be adjusted and next budgeted amount of Rs 20.00 lacs can be released for timely treatment of referred children under RBSK.”

When contacted the Director-Principal of Govt medical college Patiala, Dr Rajan Singla, “we are going to meet the civil surgeon, Patiala on August 24,2023 to sort out this matter. We are on the job the and trying to sort out this issue on priority”. He further added that “ Dr Reikhi had told me that majority of the medicines are now available on Jan Aushadhi Kendra”.

MS Rajindra Hospital DR MS Reikhi said “today I had instructed the incharge Jan Aushadhi to give medicines to the children registered under RBSK from tomorrow . I had demanded the list of items required from all the department authorised to treat children under RBSK. Two of the department had submitted and rest will submit in a day or two.” He further added that the payment of the vendors who supplied medicines, equipments etc will be released but it will take time.”

Meanwhile civil surgeon Patiala Dr Raminder Kaur can’t be contacted despite attempts to contact her.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, under the National Health Mission had launched the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), an innovative and ambitious initiative, which envisages Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services, a systemic approach of early identification and link to care, support and treatment.

This program involves screening of children from birth to 18 years of age for 4 Ds- Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Development delays, spanning 32 common health conditions for early detection and free treatment and management, including surgeries at tertiary level.

These services are provided free of cost, thus helping their families reduce out of pocket expenditure incurred on the treatment.

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