Date:22/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/22/stories/2006092216320300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

No takers for the post of Lokayukta Vigilance Director?

Raghava M.

The post has remained vacant after H. Sudershan retired two months ago

N. Santosh Hegde says not many are coming forward to take up the assignment

The post was created to look into cases of corruption in government hospitals

BANGALORE: The post of Director Vigilance (Health) in the Lokayukta has remained vacant after the retirement of H. Sudershan two months ago.

The previous Lokayukta N. Venkatachala created the post to take the help of an expert while inquiring into issues relating to the working of hospitals in the State.

Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde said: "The search is on to find the right man for the post. Not many are coming forward to take up the responsibility."

Mr. Sudershan said his job in the Lokayukta helped him study the condition of health services in the State in detail better than his previous task as Chairman of the Task Force on Health and Family Welfare.

"Mr. Venkatachala and I visited all the 1,600-odd primary health centres, district and taluk government hospitals," he said. Apart from checking the infrastructure, both went into the process of procurement of drugs. "At the end of our visits, we met patients to get their feedback. We also redressed many of their grievances," Mr. Sudershan said.

"My task was not only to correct mistakes of doctors but also to improve the working of the hospitals and primary health centres. The Health Department has been supportive in the task of preventing corruption in health sector," he said.

Among the inquiries, Mr. Sudershan looked into the procurement of a banned drug called Nimusalide by government hospitals.

He investigated the Drug Control Department in cases related to clearance of spurious drugs. He went into the purchase of dialysis machines and CT Scan machines.

"Many of our follow-up actions have been stayed by the High Court," Mr. Sudershan said.

Mr. Sudershan said it would be difficult for organisations such as the Lokayukta to root out corruption in the health sector.

"There are 20 per cent who are absolutely corrupt, whom we cannot change. There are 20 per cent who are good people. The remaining 60 per cent are fence sitters. Work should be done to use the good people and the fence sitters to prevent corruption," he said.