NHRC sends notice to Punjab Chief Secretary on denial of treatment to an accident victim
New Delhi the 19 February, 2008
The National Human Rights Commission has sent a notice to the Chief Secretary, Punjab on a press report captioned "Public healthcare in Punjab a sham" which appeared in 'The Tribune' on February 9, 2008
The press report stated that a person named Amar Singh met with an accident at Chandigarh Railway Station while he was returning to his native place Sadhupur in Moradabad, UP. His leg was severely injured and he had been virtually immobilized due to the accident. The victim needed hip operation but did not get any treatment in Government Hospitals in Sector 32 and 16 of Chandigarh, where he was admitted. The report further said that he did not get any treatment in the Government Hospital, Sector 22 Chandigarh as well. The press report also said that the victim had been lying at a bus stop adjacent to the CBI office in Sector 30 since then, without any help from anywhere.
The press report stated that despite having highest per capita income in the country, the public health care system in Punjab was in bad shape. Quoting a study, the report said that 39% of doctors and 44% of medical staff were absent on any given day at Public Health Centers in the State. Further, the study added that these centers lacked diagnostic facilities and medicines.
The press report further mentioned that the Punjab Government and the Chandigarh administration had not taken any initiative to implement the National Health Insurance Policy, where the BPL families were given virtually free insurance.
After going through the contents of the press report, the Commission directed that the same may be forwarded to the Chief Secretary, Punjab. The Commission directed the State authorities to look into the allegations and submit an action taken report to the Commission within six weeks.
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The National Human Rights Commission has sent a notice to the Chief Secretary, Punjab on a press report captioned "Public healthcare in Punjab a sham" which appeared in 'The Tribune' on February 9, 2008
The press report stated that a person named Amar Singh met with an accident at Chandigarh Railway Station while he was returning to his native place Sadhupur in Moradabad, UP. His leg was severely injured and he had been virtually immobilized due to the accident. The victim needed hip operation but did not get any treatment in Government Hospitals in Sector 32 and 16 of Chandigarh, where he was admitted. The report further said that he did not get any treatment in the Government Hospital, Sector 22 Chandigarh as well. The press report also said that the victim had been lying at a bus stop adjacent to the CBI office in Sector 30 since then, without any help from anywhere.
The press report stated that despite having highest per capita income in the country, the public health care system in Punjab was in bad shape. Quoting a study, the report said that 39% of doctors and 44% of medical staff were absent on any given day at Public Health Centers in the State. Further, the study added that these centers lacked diagnostic facilities and medicines.
The press report further mentioned that the Punjab Government and the Chandigarh administration had not taken any initiative to implement the National Health Insurance Policy, where the BPL families were given virtually free insurance.
After going through the contents of the press report, the Commission directed that the same may be forwarded to the Chief Secretary, Punjab. The Commission directed the State authorities to look into the allegations and submit an action taken report to the Commission within six weeks.
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