MP: Health care in shambles, CM starts more schemes

New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh government recently started the Astha and Mamta campaign' for free treatment of leprosy, malaria and TB even though the Central government is already running such schemes. But the health care system and infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh is in shambles. Unless infrastructure is improved, big schemes will do little to help the people.

In 2012 more than 1,000 people died from TB in the state with 24 children alone succumbing to the disease in Chaupai village of Sidhi district. Several people die from malaria and TB in the tribal dominated districts of the state.

To combat the diseases Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan started the Mamta and Astha campaign. Chauhan said the state government has targeted health and education sectors and started special campaigns for them. He said that the government is trying to control maternal mortality rate (MMR), infant mortality rate (IMR) and malnutrition.

Even though the government claims that the Mamta and Astha campaign will treat people suffering from leprosy, malaria and TB, the truth is that in Hosangabad, which is just 70 kms from state capital Bhopal, several people have died due to the above diseases.

Hoshangabad CHMO Doctor Sudhir Jaisani said that there is shortage of staff. There are 58 vacancies for specialist doctors and 24 other staff. Panchgani has just one doctor. If the doctor does us not available then we send another doctor to Panchgani, said Dr Sudhir.

The state has 8,000 hospitals, but the number of government doctors is only 4,040. There is a need of 4,000 doctors more. But according to the government only 2,500 doctors are required to fulfill the gap. The fact is that 3,000 posts of doctors are vacant in the state. Meanwhile, there are 2,789 posts of medical officers out of which 1,951 are vacant. The state 1,251 posts of medical specialist but 1,806 posts are still vacant. The state has 4,300 nurses and 3,817 posts are vacant.

Madhya Pradesh has received Rs 5,000 crore under the NRHM. In Hoshangabad cleaning items worth Rs 12 lakh were purchased from the d=funds released in 2012 and the case in under investigation following allegations of corruption.