Amid rising critical cases of Covid – 19 and medical infrastructure stretched thin, the ventilators provided by PM cares fund, meant to be used at the government hospitals has been leased out to private profit making hospitals in Mathura. These Private hospitals are allegedly charging exorbitant amount from the Covid affected patients.
The information of leasing out the ventilators to a private hospital was unearthed during a Zoom meeting in which the elected representatives of Parliament and State assembly were taking stock of the Covid situation in Mathura.
Member of Parliament Smt. Hema Malini, MLAs Shrikant Sharma, Laxminarayan Chowdhary , Pooran Prakash and Karinda Singh raised their objection on the transfer of government ventilators to private hospitals, and directed the District administration to take it back from them. They instructed strict action against the private hospitals who charged huge amounts from the patients.
The District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal assured that the action will be taken against the hospitals found guilty after the investigation is completed. The people’s representatives were attending a zoom meeting organized by the NIC to discuss the health care system and smooth arrangements at the wheat procurement centers.
The representatives sought information on the status of the ventilators received under the PM CARE fund. The Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rachna Gupta informed that the ventilators were leased out to a private hospital. The leaders were shocked to hear this and questioned as to why the ventilators were leased out instead of being used in the government hospital. She replied that the decision was taken by her predecessor to send the ventilators to the private hospitals.
During the zoom meeting, the MP Hema Malini said that the nursing staffs at the government hospitals should be trained to operate the ventilators. Power Minister Shrikant Sharma suggested that the preparations should be made keeping in view of the third wave of Covid. Dairy Development Minister Laxminarayan Chowdhary, Govardhan MLA Karinda Singh and Pooran Prakash, MLA from Baldeo asked to improve the agricultural produce procurement system.
District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal, CDO Nitin Goud, SSP Gourav Grover, CMO Dr. Rachna Gupta and all the SDMs were present in the meeting.
What is the PM – Cares Fund?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund), where citizens can contribute to aide the government’s efforts in supporting those affected by disasters. The fund will provide relief to the affected from any walk of life dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation. The fund is chaired by PM Modi and includes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
