Health Minister Dr Cherlakola Lakshma Reddy today rejected the allegations as baseless that there were irregularities with regard to purchase of equipment of operation theaters in the State-owned Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital.
During the Question Hour, Congress members Sampath Kumar, Rammohan Reddy and Vamshichand Reddy charged that there were irregularities in the purchase of equipment at the NIMS and demanded that the government take immediate steps to punish those involved in the scam and improve medical standards in the hospital. Another Congress member Rammohan Reddy urged the government to set up NIMS at Vikarabad to cater to health needs of the people. Similarly, Congress member Vamshichand Reddy said the staff at the NIMS are meagerly paid and sought filling of vacant posts.
Reacting to the comments, the minister said there were gross irregularities during the previous regime bit not now. The TRS Government has conducted an inquiry and found there were no irregularities as alleged, Lakshma Reddy said. The TRS Government was committed to improve healthcare facilities by spending adequate funds, he said. He also took a dig at the previous Congress government for not taking any steps to improve facilities at the government-run hospitals in the State.
“We have taken up renovation and modernization works at NIMS and spent Rs 47 crore in two years”, the minister said. He also said they have upgraded the hospital from 40-bed to 100 beds, recruited teaching and non-teaching staff, bought Rs 2 crore worth furniture and providing basic amenities and facilities to poor patients. (NSS)