Mission Fateh has become Mission Distrust
Dr Daljit Singh Cheema asks govt to withdraw hike in medical facilities, condemns three time hike in ambulance services
Chandigarh, August 30, 2020: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said there was a severe lack of trust in the Congress government with panchayats passing resolutions to let patients remain at home instead of being shifted to government hospitals, even as it accused the government of profiteering during a time of pandemic by increasing rates of all health services.
In a statement here, former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said there were widespread reports of village panchayats passing resolutions and even physically preventing health officials from shifting COVID-19 positive persons to government hospitals. “It seems peoples’ faith in government hospitals has eroded to such an extent that they are ready to make their kin sit at home and suffer rather them allow them to go to government institutions. The much touted Mission Fateh scheme has totally flopped and become Mission Distrust”.
Calling for an urgent need to prioritize health services and improve them, Dr Daljit Cheema said as per reports the condition of COVID centres was such that people were now avoiding them at all costs. “People say that even asymptomatic patients develop severe health issues at such centres where patients say food and even water is not assured to patients. The government should improve the facilities at such centres on an emergency basis as the common man did not have the option of seeking treatment at private hospitals”. He said there were widespread allegations of organs being taken out of bodies which should also be looked into.
The SAD leader said in another unfortunate development, it seemed that the Congress government wanted to profiteer from the plight of the people. He said instead of making health services more affordable during a time of pandemic and ensuring free treatment to the poor, the government had raised rates of all services. “Particularly galling is the three time increase in the rate of ambulance services from Rs five per km to Rs 15 per km”. He said there was a maximum need of ambulances to shift COVID positive cases to hospitals and the same should be provided at subsidized cost. “It is most condemnable that the rate of this facility has been increased by three times. This will only compel people to use private vehicles which will lead to an increase in the infection rate”.
Dr Cheema said rates of other services including stay in private ward which had been doubled from Rs 500 per night to Rs 1,000 to a 15 to 20 per cent increase in x ray, ultrasound, ECG and operation charges would make treatment in government hospitals out of the reach of the poor and needy. This hike in charges should be withdrawn immediately. The government should subsidize these services on humanitarian grounds instead of seeking to profit from them”.