CAG flays Mizoram health department

Aizawl, May 23 : In its annual report CAG has criticised state's Health department for failure to make Rural Health Centres (RHCs) functional with requisite medical and para-medical staff.

The CAG report also flayed the state for non-functioning of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub-Centres (SCs).

The report noted cases of diversion of funds, injudicious investment and unproductive expenditure, adversely affecting the delivery of healthcare services to the rural population.

About Rs 2.81 crore, allocated for rural healthcare services, were diverted for urban health services, the report observed.

The rural population was deprived of the benefits of the funds originally allocated for maintenance of RHCs/PHCs/SCs and machinery and equipment of Community Health Centers (CHCs), the report said.

These funds were used for procurement of imported medical equipment and appliances, imported disinfectant and medicines for Aizawl civil hospital, it said.

While there was an excess establishment of RHCs in the state, the report reprimanded the health authority for the shortfall in the deployment of manpower in these centres violating national norms.

There was 50 per cent shortfall in the deployment of specialist medical officers and 52 per cent shortfall in para-medical staff in CHCs.

The report also pointed out that, during last year, the district health centres constructed 37 type I, II and III quarters through contractors involving Rs 1.20 crore expenditure. However, the payment made to the contractors was based on fictitious measurement of work.

About Rs 1.26 crores spent on procurement of mobile vans and another Rs 3.75 crores for mobile clinic vans were largely unproductive expenditure, it also pointed out.

UNI