MP: Medical college Deans get unlimited powers to buy equipment

Madhya Pradesh : The hospitals associated with Government Medical Colleges have been perpetually suffering from poor condition of the essential medical equipment that are installed. This has led the state government to accord the Deans of these hospitals, with unlimited financial powers for equipment purchase. The purchases can be done from the Madhya Pradesh Medical Corporation or private companies-directly.

The Deans highlighting the sad state of essential equipment and machines in hospitals said that in the face of a limited budget of Rs 10 lakh , there was not much that they could do. They were replying to a query posed by the Principal Secretary, Medical Education, at a meeting called by him, to know the reason for the poor condition of equipment and machines at government college hospitals.

The government has been receiving several complaints from the public, regarding the poor working condition of machines, at the government hospitals. In some cases, there is no MRI, CT scan or modern medical testing equipment, available in these government hospitals.

In the changed scenario, the Deans merely have to get permission from the government, for purchase of mega equipment machines and place their orders, mentioning the specifications. The Medical Education Department officials, have made it clear that if henceforth, any machines are found to be out of order, the medical college dean is to be held responsible- directly.

The deans on their part have started calling for monthly reports from every department, regarding the condition of their equipment and machines. The departments are to submit the number of machines in their respective departments calling for repair, and others that need to be purchased afresh. The exercise is being undertaken in the interest of patients. The various departmental submissions are now to be forwarded to the Government .

Efforts made by Hitavada to contact Dr Ulka Shrivastava, Director Medical College, to seek her reaction, proved futile. However, Dr M C Songara, Dean, Gandhi Medical College, affirmed that Deans who earlier had limited financial powers for equipment purchase, have now been given unlimited financial powers. "We have started calling monthly reports of equipment and machines from all departments," he reaffirmed.