"Drop move to set up patient welfare societies"

From http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/07/stories/2007010703640500.htm

MADURAI: The Doctors' Association for Social Equality has urged the State Government to abandon its move to create patient welfare societies in primary health centres, saying it would lead to levy of user charges and generate scope for commercialism and corruption.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, general secretary G. R. Ravindranath lauded Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's statement that the primary health centres would not be privatised. But, he pointed to some paragraphs in the Government Order that had mentioned levy of user charges.

The provisions made by the National Rural Health Mission for registered societies were "threatening" and could lead to privatisation of the primary health centres in phases, he said.

Funds allocation

Dr. Ravindranath alleged that the Government was planning to hand over maintenance of the centres to the societies.

"The Rs.30-crore grant from the Central Government should go through the State Governments, and the funds should not be given directly to the primary health centres," he said.

Empowering the societies to appoint medical and paramedical professions on a contract basis, he said, would run counter to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's election manifesto.

Dr. Ravindranath suggested that the Government create a fund and encourage donors to contribute to it, instead of giving money directly to the societies.