Following media reports of medicine shortage, the Doon Hospital administration here has issued a gag order asking its staff members not to talk to mediapersons. The Principal Medical Superintendent (PMS) of Doon hospital, Dr R S Aswal has issued a circular in which he has clearly told the staff members that they are not authorised to talk to the media.
The PMS has warned of disciplinary action if anyone is found violating the order. This step of Doon hospital administration is drawing flak as gag order appears to be a desperate attempt to put up a picture that all is well in the biggest hospital of the state. It is worth mentioning here that reports about shortage of injections, medicines, glucose bottles and X ray films in the hospital were widely reported in the media.
Interestingly while the State health minister Surendra Singh Negi is continuing to deny any shortage of medicines, the Principal Secretary Health has asked the Director General (DG) of Health services, Dr Kusum Narriyal to order an inquiry on the issue. The senior officials of health department also admit that the medicine crises is precipitated by inability or disinterest shown by some Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) in issuing tenders of drugs in time. The staff members of the Doon hospital accept that the shortage of medicines is there but refused to say anything on record citing the gag orders.
They blamed the new drug purchase policy with provision like minimum turnover of `20 crore for a State-based firm and `70 crore for a national firm which intends to participate in process of tender for supplying medicines in State as deterrents for drug supplier firms.
When contacted the PMS, Dr Aswal accepted that he has asked the staff members not to give statements to the media on the matters not related with them. He said this is being done to prevent confusion in the public. Dr Aswal claimed the medicines are in sufficient quantity and the Anti rabies vaccine which was in short supply is also available now.