Bhubaneswar: As the Odisha government gears up to implement 'Mo Sarkar' initiative with an aim to make it more accountable, the Opposition parties have termed the new plan a farce and nothing more than an attempt to hoodwink people of the State.
The Health Department recently issued directive mentioning guidelines for implementation of the initiative and keeping a detailed record of patients for feedback.
As per the plan, the medical colleges and hospitals have been asked to send names of as many as 20 patients and details of their treatment in a particular format each day. Similarly, district headquarters hospitals have also been asked to furnish information of 20 patients and SDHs, CHCs have been directed to compile data of about 5 patients every day.
The department has also directed the health units to send feedbacks on hospital experience, behaviour of staff etc. from such designated patients on a daily basis. A special team has also been constituted to oversee the feedback data.
Health Minister Naba Das said the new initiative will be expedited and implemented regularly for better accountability of government machinery and welfare of the public.
However, as the State grapples with acute problems like healthcare negligence, staff crunch, lack of facilities in hospitals, the Opposition parties have raised eyebrows on the effectiveness of the proposed initiative.
"At a time when Odisha lacks proper infrastructure in health sector with basic facilities like ICUs absent in almost all the 18 district headquarters hospital, it is shocking to see that instead of addressing issues concerning development of infrastructure, the government is busy in its new plan what seems like a new drama of Naveen’s fifth term," said BJP leader Golak Mohapatra.
AICC Secretary Sarat Rout said “Mo Sarkar initiative will be a big fiasco and people will not be able to get any benefits from it.”
The government will roll out Mo Sarkar scheme from October 2 in hospitals and police stations across the State.