Not posting a regular MD NHM raises a big question mark in the office of the Commissioner/Secretary Health Department; Various financial irregularities reported in NHM directorate

Not posting a regular MD NHM raises a big question mark in the office of the Commissioner/Secretary Health Department; Various financial irregularities reported in NHM directorate

POONCH TODAY NEWS

JAMMU: The post of MD National Health Mission Jammu is lying vacant, and the charge of the post has been lying with the sitting Commissioner/Secretary Health for more than three months, and this has raised a big question mark on the working of the department.

Highly placed sources in the NHM office told “POONCH TODAY” that this post never remained vacant, but this is the first time that the government has failed to appoint a regular MD. Some officials working in the office of MD NHM remained under the radar of anti-graft agencies, as allegedly huge financial irregularities under various schemes were scripted by those holding important positions in the said office. Sources also said that top officers of the health department also used to get their share of the bounty. Many medical companies that remained in direct contact with the NHM directorate earned heavily due to the hand-in-glove activities of the few department officials without providing 100% of their services on the ground. Right now, many activities are going on in the department without any proper procedure, and this has raised a big question mark about the working of the department from a financial and related point of view. Rules are being violated openly in various schemes. Sources also said that the Commissioner/Secretary Health, holding charge of MD NHM, knows each and every bit of the activities going on in the NHM directorate, Jammu, as he also remained as MD, but has maintained a questionable silence. A few officials eyeing various types of financial gains are reportedly playing a big role behind the curtains, and not posting regular M.D. NHM is a part of that strategy, as it will help the blue-eyed officials with strong links to hit favors by all means, said highly placed sources of “POONCH TODAY” in the NHM directorate. A few employees in the office of MD NHM Jammu reportedly used to influence the workings of the department, eyeing heavy financial favors. Even under some important schemes, huge fraud is going on. Companies authorized to prove services under Teleradiology are unable to reach each and every patient, but the NHM authorities are releasing regular bills in their favor, and this points towards gross financial irregularities. Even companies associated with 108 ambulance services are getting regular bills in their favor, despite the fact that not all patients are lucky enough to get the said service. Only a single firm used to get all printing tenders, and it points towards a big conspiracy by blue-eyed NHM employees holding important positions. Moreover, FACO has not been transferred yet and has held the said post for more than four years. The majority of NHM employees are not doing the job for which they were recruited, as per their job profiles. No regular tender is floated for the data operator job; instead, NHM authorities believe in extending the tenders year after year by favoring a particular company. The sorry state of affairs in the NHM directorate is also responsible for NHM employees not getting a regular salary due to an alleged shortage of funds. Sources also said that the office of Commissioner/Secretary Health is deliberately maintaining silence, and this raises a big question mark on the intentions of the top department officers. A regular MD at the helm of the directorate is the need of the hour for the smooth working of the NHM. Although some MDs have a bad track record of working outside the rules on some issues, the absence of a regular MD in the NHM directorate, Jammu, has given other blue-eyed people a chance to fulfill their agenda behind closed doors. A high-level inquiry is needed into the workings of NHM Directorate Jammu to detect various financial frauds that were scripted earlier and those frauds that are still going on. Those who played and are still playing a big part need to be brought to justice, as scripting financial frauds has become a routine affair in the said directorate. Will the Commissioner/Secretary of Health look into the matter or prefer to maintain silence? Only time will tell.