LUCKNOW: The state health department has fallen short on its promises of providing free medicines to the patients under the National Rural Health Mission. An audit report prepared by the central team reveals this.
"Medicines were not provided to the beneficiaries (of Janani Suraksha Yojana) during labour or at the time of discharge. Beneficiaries were forced to buy medicines/injections during delivery. This is particularly important, as after delivery, anti-biotics must be provided to avoid sepsis (responsible for 11% maternal deaths in the country). In UP about 24% maternal deaths are attributed to sepsis," the report said.
The audit team's observation may be corroborated in some of the women and child hospitals (Bal evum Mahila Chikitsalaya) in the city, which failed to provide the crucial caesarean kits. "Attendants have to buy the kit from market. Even the life saving drugs like iron sucrose and human anti-D injections from outside," claimed a pharmacist in health department.
"UP health and family welfare department officials were more interested in other items. In fact they bought lesser important items such as surgical gloves and hand wash solutions," said a senior officer in the health department, when asked to reason the shortfall. His words appear true in the light of a government order dated October 2010. In the said order, family welfare directorate came in contact with UP State Industrial Development Corporation asking them to supply eight items under NRHM. Shockingly, orders for these items were placed at rates much higher than the usual ones. (A copy of the order is with TOI).
Sample this: The approved rate of common iodine solution (5% povidione solution) is Rs 39 for 500 ml. And amount being shelled for the same thing under NRHM is Rs 270, which is clearly over six times the price. Similarly, sterilised surgical gloves, which cost around Rs 8.50 as per the director general supplies and disposables, Government of India (DGS and D) rate contract, was being bought at a rate of Rs 34 per pair under NRHM. Authorities fixed Rs 450 for 200 ml pack of common liquid hand wash, the rate of which as per UP government's rate contract is Rs 104 and nearly five times the quantity (1000 ml). Cost alone is not a factor. Health department officials did not bother to issue specifications of these items.
Sources claimed that crucial step of third party inspection (TPI) of items supplied was surpassed. Now that NRHM has come under the scanner of the Centre, a team from the Food and Drug Authority has reacted to the cause. On Saturday, they went to Health department's warehouse in Naderganj, where the consignment is stored -- for collecting samples to assess their quality. However, health officials present on the occasion dismissed the exercise as a 'routine affair'.
The health team also observed that there was dearth of iron folic acid ((IFA) and de-worming tablets. Keeping in mind the concept of 'healthy girls could be healthy mothers' as its guiding principle, UP health department proposed Saloni Swasthya Kishori Yojana launched under NRHM. "Provision of IFA and de-worming tablets is the back bone of the scheme with the aim of reducing anaemia among girl, but both these tablets were not made available to the schools for a long period during the two years of operation. Thus, the scheme failed to achieve desired goal," said the report. To note, during 2010-11, Rs 311 lakh were allocated for this scheme.
A 'bad intention' and 'poor planning' is behind this unavailability. Consider this: In December 2010, family welfare directorate placed orders for plain IFA tablets, but fixed a rate, which was much higher than what other states were paying. While, UP was benevolently paying Rs 18 for 10 tablets, other states and health ministry bought 100 tablets for Rs 10-14. Sources claimed that the move suited 'vested interests of some people'. But, this is not the only scheme involving procurement of IFA tablets. Having high prevalence of anaemia, UP is among the biggest buyers of IFA.
"Medicines were not provided to the beneficiaries (of Janani Suraksha Yojana) during labour or at the time of discharge. Beneficiaries were forced to buy medicines/injections during delivery. This is particularly important, as after delivery, anti-biotics must be provided to avoid sepsis (responsible for 11% maternal deaths in the country). In UP about 24% maternal deaths are attributed to sepsis," the report said.
The audit team's observation may be corroborated in some of the women and child hospitals (Bal evum Mahila Chikitsalaya) in the city, which failed to provide the crucial caesarean kits. "Attendants have to buy the kit from market. Even the life saving drugs like iron sucrose and human anti-D injections from outside," claimed a pharmacist in health department.
"UP health and family welfare department officials were more interested in other items. In fact they bought lesser important items such as surgical gloves and hand wash solutions," said a senior officer in the health department, when asked to reason the shortfall. His words appear true in the light of a government order dated October 2010. In the said order, family welfare directorate came in contact with UP State Industrial Development Corporation asking them to supply eight items under NRHM. Shockingly, orders for these items were placed at rates much higher than the usual ones. (A copy of the order is with TOI).
Sample this: The approved rate of common iodine solution (5% povidione solution) is Rs 39 for 500 ml. And amount being shelled for the same thing under NRHM is Rs 270, which is clearly over six times the price. Similarly, sterilised surgical gloves, which cost around Rs 8.50 as per the director general supplies and disposables, Government of India (DGS and D) rate contract, was being bought at a rate of Rs 34 per pair under NRHM. Authorities fixed Rs 450 for 200 ml pack of common liquid hand wash, the rate of which as per UP government's rate contract is Rs 104 and nearly five times the quantity (1000 ml). Cost alone is not a factor. Health department officials did not bother to issue specifications of these items.
Sources claimed that crucial step of third party inspection (TPI) of items supplied was surpassed. Now that NRHM has come under the scanner of the Centre, a team from the Food and Drug Authority has reacted to the cause. On Saturday, they went to Health department's warehouse in Naderganj, where the consignment is stored -- for collecting samples to assess their quality. However, health officials present on the occasion dismissed the exercise as a 'routine affair'.
The health team also observed that there was dearth of iron folic acid ((IFA) and de-worming tablets. Keeping in mind the concept of 'healthy girls could be healthy mothers' as its guiding principle, UP health department proposed Saloni Swasthya Kishori Yojana launched under NRHM. "Provision of IFA and de-worming tablets is the back bone of the scheme with the aim of reducing anaemia among girl, but both these tablets were not made available to the schools for a long period during the two years of operation. Thus, the scheme failed to achieve desired goal," said the report. To note, during 2010-11, Rs 311 lakh were allocated for this scheme.
A 'bad intention' and 'poor planning' is behind this unavailability. Consider this: In December 2010, family welfare directorate placed orders for plain IFA tablets, but fixed a rate, which was much higher than what other states were paying. While, UP was benevolently paying Rs 18 for 10 tablets, other states and health ministry bought 100 tablets for Rs 10-14. Sources claimed that the move suited 'vested interests of some people'. But, this is not the only scheme involving procurement of IFA tablets. Having high prevalence of anaemia, UP is among the biggest buyers of IFA.