TURA: The alleged move by the government to privatise the still to be inaugurated Jengjal Public Health Centre (PHC) has irked local bodies and the general public from the area who fear that such a move would pose difficulties for the people in the future.
According to a statement issued by combined organizations which included the GSU, GSMC, ADE, FKJGP, AHAM, AYWO and others, there has been extreme delay by the government to inaugurate the said PHC although its construction was completed several years ago. To make matters worse, the organizations alleged that the government was contemplating handing over the same to a private operator.
“We have served several memorandums to the government requesting for its inauguration, all of which have been in vain. Now we have come to know that the PHC is being handed over to the Nursing Home Centre run by the SDA Church Mission,” the organizations claimed.
The organizations feel that with the privatisation of the PHC, the people from the area would face problems with regard to obtaining birth certificates, school certificates, death certificates as well as higher rates of hospital fees for treatment.
“We are thankful to the government for bringing the PHC to the area but it should function under the government as it is supposed to. We are strongly opposed to a private party running it. If it cannot be a full fledged government run PHC, then it should be made semi-government and the private partner involved should be a government recognized one,” the organizations said.