Mizo govt fails to create good rural medical infrastructure: CAG

Aizawl, Nov 15 (UNI) The Controller and Auditor General has come down heavily on the Mizoram Health department for its failure to make Rural Health Centres (RHCs) functional with requisite medical and para-medical staff and 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 health care services''.

''About Rs 2.81 crore allocated for rural health care services were diverted for urban health services,'' it said.

The rural population was deprived from the benefits of the funds originally allocated for maintenance of machinery and equipment of Community Health Centers(CHCs).

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

While there was an excess establishment of the 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 the district health centres constructed 37 type I, II and III quarters through contractors involving Rs 1.20 crore expenditure last year. However, the report added, ''the payment made to the contractors were based on fictitious measurement of work.'' About 1.26 crores was spent on procurement of mobile van and another Rs 3.75 crores for mobile clinic van, the report said adding ''these were largely unproductive expenditure''.

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