Doctors and Nurses in Khariar UGPHC make a business of 1.5 crores per year from people's helplessness.

A recent survey conducted by a people’s forum called Durnity Birodhi Manch in Nuapada district of Orissa (INDIA) on the impact of health programmes especially the much aspired National Rural Health Mission has revealed that there is rampant corruption in health sector. “More than rupees 6 lakhs is paid as corruption tax to the service providers in government health centres every year by every 1000 poor house holds of Khariar block of Nuapada district. In addition to this the corruption tax for institutional delivery for each pregnant woman is around Rs.3000/- in the government hospital. It is a business of more than 1.5 crore rupees per year for the hospital staffs at Khariar UGPSC only.” This is the statement of the members of Durnity Birodhi Manch in a press meet organised by the Voluntary organisations Ayauskam and Vikash at Khariar. The report says that,
1. More than 300 types of medicines are supplied under NRHM to the hospitals and health centers for distribution to the patients free of cost. But more than 95 percent people are unaware of this. This is because the health centres and the hospitals do not reveal the same and most of the drugs are sold to the patients.
2. 38 types of medicines and equipments are available in hospitals for free distribution to the pregnant women during delivery. But the people have to spend between Rs.400 to 500. The nurse even demand corruption tax for supply of delivery kits.
3. The doctor in charge of Institutional delivery demand money not less than Rs.700/- for conducting delivery. Issue of cheque is held up if this amount in not paid. More than 90 percent of the pregnant women admitted for institutional delivery have reported that they paid the corruption tax by mortgaging their movable assets.
4. The ASHAs are the new hope for the people. Institutional delivery in Nuapada district has increased to 42 percent from a mere 2 percent due to their hard work and motivational capacity. But it is unfortunate that they are not behaved properly. There is no facility of rest room or toilet in Khariar hospital for them.
A rally is going to be organised by the Durinity Birodhi Manch on 11.12.2009 at Khariar to protest against these corruption and exploitation.

Ajit Kumar panda
Tapan Ranjan Dash, District Correspondent, Doordarshan and AIR
Chitta Ranjan Sing Deo, Advocate
Bhabesh Panigrahi, Advocate.