Health portfolio a mixed blessing

LUCKNOW: Being Kalyan Singh’sson has proved to be a mixed blessing for health minister Rajbeer Singh. On theone hand, it has acted as a passport to the most coveted cabinet portfolio forthis RKP MLA from Dibai, Bulandshahr, on the other hand, it makes handling thetask a little tricky as it entails comparisons with the senior Singh, who alsobegan his career in 1977 from the same launching pad.“Thatwill not be easy, I am well aware,� Rajbeer said. However, he would stilllike to give it his best shot and hope to succeed.Since the time hetook over — October 6 to be precise — Singh has been busy pouringover files trying to learn the ropes. The efforts show. Here is a minister whoalready has the requisite data of health department virtually on his fingertips. He has also learnt enough to sift grain form chaff as he knows the exactpercentage of committed cadre and shirkers. Last fortnight has alsogiven him a fair insight into the scams and scandals in the department, rightfrom the spurious drug rackets to false claims on paper to rampant absenteeism.And he has also taken decisions which, though small in magnitude, will have farreaching impact.First, Singh hasdispatched anti-rabies vaccine to all tehsil level hospitals. “I come froma rural background so I know this is something which is hardest to get at thegovernment hospital,� he remarked.Next comes his fetish forcleanliness which, if implemented in earnest, can actually transform the scene.Painting the hospital was only the first step, he would like to ensure cleantoilets and even clean water supply. “The overhead tanks of the governmenthospitals in some towns have not been cleaned for ten years and are full ofworms and grime, at least an inch thick,� he revealed.Totackle the problems of absenteeism among government doctors, Singh has issueddirectives for installation of telephones at all PHCs. “This will help memonitor their attendance in case of complaints,� he said. The minister hasacquired a compiled list of those who have been posted in a particular city, anddo not want to move out. “The class needs to be handled firmly,� hedeclared.Other plans include checking the purchase of substandarddrugs and making doctors more accountable. And, finally, putting a curb onprivate practice by the PMS cadre. “The number of these could not be morethan 500 but the class is soiling the reputation of the entire cadre,� hepointed out.The list is endless, so is his enthusiasm. Rajbeer Singhis trying to fit into his father’s shoes all right. How far he succeedsonly time will tell.