K'taka govt writes to Union Health Minister urging urgent supply of anti-TB drugs to State
Bengaluru, Mar 27: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has written to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya seeking urgent supply of anti-TB drugs to the state.
In a letter to Mandaviya, he said there has been frequent interruption in the supply of anti-TB drugs to the state since 2021, and two recent communications from the Government of India require the state to procure DSTB (Drug-Sensitive Tuberculosis) patient drugs for the next three months.
The second communication came after the model code of conduct (MCC) had come into effect, it said.
Stressing that the state notifies more than 80,000 patients annually -- around 6,800 TB patients on a monthly basis, Rao said they have to be provided continuous treatment.
In view of this, the state has intensified its efforts to procure Anti-TB drugs both at the state level and district level. A letter from the Mission Director (National Health Mission) had also been sent to the Joint Secretary (Reproductive and Child Health) regarding permission for utilising the approved ROP (Record of Proceedings) of 2024-25 to procure these medications. In public interest, the department has requested the Finance department of the state to provide additional funds for procuring the drugs, the letter stated.
"However, it has been learnt that neither these medications are available in the quantities required by the state nor the procurement process can be hastened in view of both its manufacturing process as well as the prevailing MCC," the Minister said.
Rao further stated that he did not wish to accuse the Union Government of callousness. He, however, pointed out that state support for the TB patients has been jeopardised by this action of the Union Government.
"Both the delayed communication to procure a critical drug (whose procurement is problematic in the short run) and also issuing the communication during model code of conduct have adversely affected the efforts of the state government in this regard," he said in the letter dated March 26.
"Under the circumstances, the Union Government has an obligation to respond immediately and support the state government to keep up the supply of critical drugs of the TB patients at a required level," the Minister added.
He urged the Union Health Minister to instruct the officials concerned to supply the first-line Anti-TB drugs on an urgent basis to the state.
"We hope the Union Government recognises the adverse effects of its decision and adopts a course correction immediately, to avoid thousands of TB patients throughout the state of Karnataka being put to uncalled hardship and leading to higher pain and death in such patients," the letter added.
It is deeply concerning that the Union Government's frequent interruptions in the supply of Anti-TB drugs are jeopardizing the health and well-being of over 80,000 TB patients annually in Karnataka. Despite our relentless efforts to ensure continuous treatment, the recent… pic.twitter.com/u3tHFWHi3r
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) March 27, 2024
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Gujarat man held for impersonating govt official, duping people with forged letters
Ahmedabad (PTI): The Ahmedabad police have arrested a 29-year-old man who allegedly posed as a senior revenue official and used fake letters claiming to be from various government departments to cheat people, an official said on Sunday.
Mehul Shah, an engineer who manages two schools at Vankaner in Gujarat’s Morbi district, is accused of making lakhs of rupees with bogus documents and false claims, said inspector (crime branch) JK Makwana.
Shah had forged an appointment letter from the Ahmedabad district education officer (DEO) to offer a computer operator’s job in a government office to a complainant’s son. He also introduced himself as a trustee of a school and did not pay a man Rs 7 lakh due to him over the painting of a school building, the official said.
“Despite holding no official position in the state or central government, he used fake work permits and NOCs to cheat people of lakhs of rupees,” the police official said.
One complainant alleged that Shah identified himself as a top revenue department official and produced a fake letter from the chairman of the “department of science and research development” to make him install a siren and curtain in a hired vehicle but did not pay for the job, he said.
Bogus letters claiming to be from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ahmedabad DEO were used by the accused to cheat the complainants, the police official said.
Police have recovered from his possession fake identity cards and letters with headings like “bharat gaurav ratna shri samman council”, “chairman of department of science and research development”, “health and family welfare department”, and “road and building department”.
“The FIR is based on complaints by three victims. We appeal to the people to come forward and submit their complaints if they have been cheated by Shah in any way,” Makwana said.
