New Delhi: Congress today targeted in the Rajya Sabha the Chhattisgarh government over the recent botched sterilisation sur-geries in Bilaspur, in which 13 women died, and demanded its dismissal.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Pramod Tiwari said 83 tubectomy surgeries were performed by one doctor on a single day although medical norms provide for maximum of ten such operations per day.
The doctor in question was decorated by Chief Minister Raman Singh at Republic Day function this year, he said. Tiwari also alleged that the facilities for carrying out the operation were not adequate.
He alleged that rat poison was administered to the operated tribal women instead of pain-killers and medicines for the camp were bought from black-listed pharma companies.
“It is not the doctor who is responsible but Chhat-tisgarh government that is responsible. Chhattisgarh government should be dismissed,” he said.
Associating with Tiwari, his party colleague Moh-sina Kidwai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked Raman Singh to take strict action but only some officials have been suspended.
The Health Minister should have been removed, she said, adding Chhat-tisgarh government had in three months revoked suspension of an official after an eye camp went wrong sometime back.
Some 83 women under-went laparoscopic tubec-tomy surgery at the camp, receiving incentive pay-ments of Rs 1,400. Health workers got Rs 200 for each woman they brought to the camp. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC) raised the issue of Tata Memorial Hospital seeking inclusion of 12 cancer medicines in the list of essential drugs so that they are affordable.The medicines are used in treatment of caners of brain, prostrate, lungs and breast, he said, adding patients cannot buy them unless they are included in the price control list. Health Minister J P Nadda said he has taken note of the matter and will examine it. K N Balagopal (CPI-M) raised the issue outbreak of birdflu in Kerala and three lakh ducks and other poultry animals being culled. He said the disease may spread to other states unless effective interven-tions are taken.
Nadda said a three-member team has already been sent to do on-the-spot assessment and promised all support from the Centre in dealing with the outbreak.
Ritabrata Banerjee (CPI-M) raised the issue of racist attacks in the national capital region and Ban-galore against people of North East and demanded drafting of a strong law.
Naresh Agrawal (SP) demanded withdrawal of a government order that put checks and balances on expenses on hospitalization and medicines to MPs and their family members.
Demanding withdrawal of the order, he sought a response from Health Minister J P Nadda, who was in the House.(PTI)