No. UN-BN/AIPEU-Gr.-C / 03-11 / 2013,
Dated at Bhubaneswar the 12th November, 2013
Respected Sir,
This is regarding the substandard service rendered by CGHS Dispensary,
Bhubaneswar to the beneficiaries of erstwhile Postal Dispensary, Bhubaneswar
now merged with CGHS with effect from
01.08.2013 vide Notification No. 4 – 212006-C & P / CGHS (P), dated 9th
July, 2013 issued by the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of
India.
Before going in detail, we would like to intimate you that
experiencing bitterly the gross negligence and
willful avoidance to the beneficiaries by the staff and Medical
Officer(s) of the erstwhile Postal
Dispensary, Bhubaneswar, this Divisional
union, with an intention for permanent solution to the problems faced by the
beneficiaries brought the recurring
problems to the notice of both the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communication
and Information Technology, Govt. of India and Minister of Health & Family
Welfare, Govt. of India through Sj. Mohan Jena, Honourable ( M P ) Lok Sabha
who wrote on 13.07.2010. Replying to the above letter vide his letter No. D O
No. 24 – 9 / 2010 – Medical, dated 11.08.2010, Sj. Sachin Pilot, the then
Hon’ble Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, Govt.
of India stated “The Department has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare for merger of 19 such departmental dispensary with CGHS
dispensaries which include merger of Bhubaneswar Postal Dispensary with CGHS
Dispensary. The Proposal is pending with the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare for a decision”. Similarly, acknowledging the letter of Sj. Jena, Sri
Gulam Nabi Azad, the then Minister, Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India
replied on 25.10.2010, “I am having the matter examined and will take the
necessary action accordingly”. Therefore, we had played a definite role in
bringing the Postal Dispensary, Bhubaneswar under the purview of CGHS. The
intention was just to get timely and better medical treatment.
Subsequently,
when the Postal Dispensary, Bhubaneswar was merged with CGHS as above, our
members were relaxed with a joy of freeing themselves from the clutch of the so
called doctor(s) / staff neglecting them for years together on one hand and
with a hope of getting better medical treatment on the other.
But most
regretfully, we would like to humbly submit that the same ill-treatment is
still continuing to our utter dissatisfaction by the same Medical Officer /
staff who have been taken over by CGHS.
Before adopting any other activity
democratically, we feel it wise to bring your kind notice the following
difficulties faced by our members who are the beneficiaries of CGHS,
Bhubaneswar with an expectation for early redressal.
1.
It
has been brought to our notice that the attendance of the staff of CGHS,
Bhubaneswar including the Medical Officer(s) is very poor. There is no strict
adherence to the prescribed working hours of the dispensary which compels the
beneficiaries to wait for longer period to meet the doctor. Contradictorily,
even after late arrival, the M O, without any hesitation and caring for the
patients waiting outside remains busy on the plea of monitoring several
administrative works and meeting the Medical Representatives which is highly
unappreciable. It may kindly be noted that the nature of the job of the postal
employees is operative and the beneficiaries have to take prior permission /
leave to proceed to the dispensary. Under such circumstance, failure on the
part of the dispensary for timely disposal of the patients / beneficiaries not
only harasses them but invites a negative remark from their controlling
authorities.
As such, while this union urges for
making frequent surprise visits to verify the veracity of the facts stated
above, simultaneously requests you to kindly direct the staff and Medical
Officer(s) of the CGHS Dispensary, Bhubaneswar:
i.
To
ensure timely attendance of all staff members of the Dispensary including the
Medical Officer (s).
ii.
To
fix separate time for performing administrative works and meeting the Medical
Representatives. Under no circumstances, such works need to be performed till
final disposal of the last patient / beneficiary.
2.
(a). Though
it is mandatory on the part of the dispensary to issue immediately the
available medicines and next day the medicines not available indenting through
Authorized Local Chemist, we are sorry to witness serious lapses in this
regard. The beneficiaries are being compelled by the Medical Officer to run to
the dispensary for days together continuously on the plea of some pretext or
other. Instances are there also for complete denial of the prescribed medicines
which is not at all acceptable.
(b). As per rules, medicines
are required to be issued if available or by generic name or by any available
brand name of equal therapeutic value to the beneficiaries on the basis of
prescriptions of either by government doctors or by doctors of empanelled hospitals in permitted cases. But we are very sorry to
inform you that the beneficiaries are not at all referred to any one of the
empanelled hospitals in Bhubaneswar but forcefully referred to Capital Hospital
only where the facilities are too limited. Secondly, the medicines prescribed
by the doctor / specialists of referred hospital are not being honoured as per
rules. Instances are there when the beneficiaries have been forced by the
Medical Officer first to purchase such prescribed medicines paying from their
own pocket so that the composition can be verified for further supply. And
thus, the beneficiary and his / her family member(s) is / are deprived of
getting proper treatment which is against the spirit of CGHS
©. In case some medicines are not
available and are urgently required for treatment, though there is provision
for issue of authority form by CMO I / C for collection of medicines, for a few
days like 3-5 days, directly from authorized local chemists, no such discretion
is seen to be adopted by the CGHS dispensary, Bhubaneswar for our
beneficiaries. Similarly, medicines up to ‘3’ months are not seen to be issued
in one go for treatment of Chronic illnesses as per rules. This we consider as
willful avoidance and step-motherly attitude towards the postal beneficiaries.
As such, this union would like to
sincerely request you to direct the staff and Medical Officer(s) of the CGHS
Dispensary, Bhubaneswar:
i.
To
ensure supply of prescribed medicines as per CGHS guidelines on the same day / next day and stay away
from harassing willfully the postal beneficiaries for rendering proper and
timely medical treatment.
ii.
To refer the beneficiary to any empanelled hospital / diagnostic laboratory of his
/ her choice to undergo treatment / investigations.
iii.
To honour the prescriptions of the
doctors / specialists of the hospitals where the beneficiary has been referred
to.
iv.
To interpret the rules in favour of
the beneficiaries and use the discretionary power for benefit of the employees.
v.
To issue authority form for collection
of medicines not available in the
Dispensary from the authorized local chemist directly as per rules.
vi.
To ensure timely collection of
medicines from the Authorized
Local Chemist for timely supply to the beneficiaries to avoid frequent
attendance by the same beneficiary.
vii.
To
avoid re-registration of medicines already prescribed.
Lastly, we may not commit a mistake in
humbly submitting that CGHS Dispensary is not an entertainment house to attract
the beneficiaries for frequent visit but to be attended to save one’s health
and life which need not be avoided or neglected under any circumstances.
In this context, we would like to
humbly submit one thing more that for permanent and immediate solutions to the
above problems, we are ready to discuss with you in person also accompanied
with our staff representatives from Officers’ Association, Administrative
Employees Union, Inspector & Asst. Superintendents’ Association, Postal
Printing Press Employees Union etc. and the beneficiaries who have been
victimized as such for direct interaction for your satisfaction.
Under the circumstances, we would like
to sincerely request you that while you may consider the above difficulties of
the beneficiaries and suggestions of this union seriously and take a positive
step for immediate redressal, we may be permitted to meet you in a group for
necessary discussion in person.
Expecting a line of reply on the
action taken and date and time to meet you.
With profound regards.
Sincerely yours,
( Bruhaspati Samal )
To
Joint Director, CGHS, Bhubaneswar
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