Aurangabad MLA opposes reduced funds to GMC

Aurangabad: The Government’s decision to reduce fund allocation to Aurangabad Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) by over 50% has hit the poor of the city, said MIM MLA, Imtiaz Jaleel in the Legislative Assembly, on Tuesday. He demanded better healthcare facilities for the city.

More than 7 lakh patients from across Marathwada visit the GMCH. The hospital’s demand for a Rs. 9 crore budget for medicine purchase has been sidelined by the government, which has granted a sum of Rs. 3.88 crores for the 2016-17 budget, says Jaleel adding that the 2014-15 sanction however, had been that of Rs. 7 crores.

The MLA has also demanded Rs. 12 crores for an MRI machine at the state’s first government cancer hospital. The legislative Assembly member also complained that in the absence of drug availability at the hospital pharmacy, doctors were directing patients to private drug stores for purchase of medicines on the lines of the Andhra Pradesh Government.He wanted action taken against such medical practitioners.

The MLA also complained about the delay in the opening of the civil hospital at Chikalthana, though the infrastructure of the hospital was ready. Replying to this, Health Minister, Deepak Sawant said the civil hospital would be made functional soon.