Despite having assistance cells,PGI denies their existence

For over a decade,the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research has been serving poor patients through an assistance cell and also runs a private grant cell to benefit those who get financial aid for medical care at the institute.

Written by Smriti Sharma Vasudeva
Chandigarh | September 23, 2011 02:51 AM IST

3 min read

For over a decade,the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has been serving poor patients through an assistance cell and also runs a private grant cell to benefit those who get financial aid for medical care at the institute.

Yet,for the reasons best known to PGI Authorities,in a reply to an RTI query,the institute,contradicting the existence of the two cells,has stated that the creation of the Poor Patient Assistance Cell and Private Grant cell is under consideration. The reply states,however,that to facilitate the patients,the institute has pooled some staff from other sections on temporary basis as a stop gap arrangement.

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This,notwithstanding,that on an yearly basis,the Private Grant Cell,which has a designated office in Nehru Hospital,receives funds to the tune of crores of rupees through the Prime Ministers Relief Fund,President Relief Fund,ESIC,Chief Ministers Relief fund,and various other funds under the Ministry of Health and Family welfare. Similarly,the Poor Patient Assistance Cell,also gets donations from general public,corporates and others and has about 45-50 lakh.

Incidentally,PGI sources say that the grants and funds received by both the cells are not even included in the annual audit of the institution. Already,there had been a CBI inquiry pertaining to the Hospital Purchase Division for irregularities in its functioning in the recent past.

Further,replying to the RTI query pertaining to the post of the in-charge of the Private Grant Cell,the authorities have stated that there is no sanctioned post for the same at present. Only Dr S K Jindal,who is the professor in charge (Hospital Purchase Division),is the in-charge of the cell.

This despite the fact that the assistant to Dr S K Jindal,claims to be the in charge of the cell and even uses an official stamp of the in charge private grant cell. The reply,however,states P C Pant,who assists Dr Jindal,is only a stop gap arrangement.

Further,the reply states that since the creation of the cell is under consideration,there are no recruitment rules pertaining to qualification,experience and others framed for those working with the cell raising serious doubts over the functioning of the cell.

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Moreover,while the reply states that there is only one sanctioned medical social worker for poor patients,in reality,there are three such workers for poor patients.