Medical officers cry foul over AMC's TB prog

AURANGABAD: The state government has directed the urban development ministry to take necessary action on the complaint registered by two medical officers regarding the alleged economic irregularities and negligence of TB patients by the civic body's health department.
The officers complained that they were subjected to mental harassment and also alleged irregularities in improper implementation of the TB control programme against the guidelines of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP).They said TB patients have not been getting drugs since more than a year because of the health officers' negligent attitude.
In a letter to Maharashtra chief secretary Swadhin Kshatriya, medical officers Prashant Warkari and Sanjay Navgire working under RNTCP with the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) complained of unlawful mental and economical harassment by their senior officers, including medical health officer Suhas Jagtap.
The medical officers stated that they were harassed by their seniors as they had raised voice against their economic irregularities observed by the state audit department. They said the TB control programme is facing many problems.
"Despite the World Health Bank as well as the central and state governments providing funds under the RNTCP to provide treatment to patients suffering from TB, they were turned back citing lack of drugs since the past one year. The TB control programme is getting hampered due to irregular supply of anti-TB medicines and lab consumables since years. Moreover, the government vehicles for rendering services to patients were used by the officials for personal use. This would defeat the purpose of TB control thereby increasing the burden of the disease," the officers said.
They said the death of TB patients is registered without visiting them and conducting the death audit. "Similarly, TB patients are brought on record without diagnosis, which is violation of RNCTP guidelines," they stated.
Warkari said the revengeful attitude of his seniors has put him and his family under constant threat, which ultimately forced him to resign.
The medical officers pleaded the chief secretary to take cognisance of their complaint, conduct an enquiry and take stringent legal as well as disciplinary action against Jagtap and the city TB officer.
The officers have also sent a copy of their complaint to the WHO chairman, the prime minister, health ministers and the National Human Rights Commission.
Kshatriya gave directions to state urban development department secretary Manisha Patankar-Mhaiskar and said, "Please see the forwarded email. You are requested to take necessary action as per rules and also inform the applicant concerned about the action being taken."
While commenting on the issues, Jagtap said he would look into the matter and conduct an enquiry.