Sans driver, mobile medical unit lies defunct in Jalandhar

JALANDHAR: The national mobile medical unit (MMU) here has been lying defunct for over three months now in the absence of a driver.

Earlier, the medical van used to visit a village or a slum at least six days a week to provide medical facilities to the people. An average of 60 patients used to get the treatment during the visit.

However, after the driver’s death last year, the van has rarely visited the villages, since drivers reportedly leave after working for short intervals, an official at the civil hospital here said.

The van is equipped with X-ray and laboratory facilities. The staff includes a doctor, nurse, radiologist, lab attendant, pharmacist on board, besides the helper and driver.

“A man from the Ferozepur was hired as a driver, but he also left, after working only for a month or two,” the official said.

Other staff of the unit have been temporarily deployed at the maternal and child healthcare centre, the official said.

The MMU van was started with an aim to provide outreach medical facilities in the remote areas.

Costing around ₹35 lakh, the van was introduced by the ministry of health and family welfare under the National Health Mission (NHM).

People in the NHM department familiar with the matter said that a minimum wage of ₹8000 for drivers is a major reason behind them leaving.

District programming officer (DPM) Vinay Malhan said,“The matter has been taken up by the higher authorities and recruitment process is on. The authorities assured us of sending the new driver at the earliest.”