Top bureaucrats summoned over shortage of medicines

In an unprecedented move, the Petition Committee of Delhi Assembly on Thursday summoned four top bureaucrats including the Delhi chief secretary to appear before it on Monday over shortage of medicines and medical equipment in the government hospitals, non-desilting of drains and other issues.

The move comes after the nine-member panel, headed by AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj, received complaints pertaining to three departments, namely PWD, Health and Social Welfare.

Bhardwaj said the committee held its meeting on Wednesday and decided to summon chief secretary MM Kutty, PWD secretary Ashwani Kumar, health secretary Madhup Vyas, social welfare secretary Anil Kumar for June 3 for different reasons.

“The committee had received several complaints pertaining to non-availability of medicines and medical equipment. The chief secretary and the health secretary have been summoned in that regard. The PWD secretary has also been summoned in connection with monsoon pre- paredness and de-silting of drains,” Bhardwaj told HT.

Sources said the social welfare secretary has been summoned in connection with a complaint related to a batch of officials in the department.

Concerned over non-availibility of medicines, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had recently directed the chief secretary to ensure adequate supply of medicines in government hospitals. On Wednesday, Kejriwal wrote to L-G Anil Baijal and sought removal of the medical superintendent of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital over the alleged deficiencies in the facility.

Sources said the complaints received by the petition committee regarding medicine shortage is backed by documentary proof.

“The committee wants to reach the root of the problem. How is it possible that despite availability of funds and a centralised system of medicine procurement, the hospitals are short of medicine supply? There must be a missing link,” a party legislator said.

FOUR BUREAUCRATS INCLUDING CHIEF SECRETARY MM KUTTY WAS ASKED TO APPEAR BEFORE PETITIONS COMMITTEE OF DELHI ASSEMBLY ON JUNE 3