BANGALORE: Determined to live up to his promise to make the administrative machinery more effective, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday sent out a clear message to babus that those who fail to deliver would be made to repent.
Siddaramaiah, who chaired a meeting of deputy commissioners of all the 30 districts and chief executive officers of Zilla Panchayats here, came down heavily on officials of the Health Department. He expressed his displeasure over the failure to prevent and clear encroachment of government land, stop misuse of temple land and check lapses in the Social Welfare Department.
According to sources, Siddaramaiah admitted that the condition in government hospitals is nothing short of hell. “Has any one of you visited these hospitals and seen the pathetic condition?” he asked. He told the officials to ensure that poor patients get compassionate service and that there is adequate stock of medicines to provide the poor free medical care. “The practice of asking the patients to purchase medicines from private stores should end,” he said.
Principal Secretary to Health and Family Welfare N Sivasailam is said to have come under fire during the meeting as the CM was unhappy with the conditions in Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology.
According to sources, he lost his cool when Sivasailam tried to explain that everything was fine there. “I have received complaints from the MLAs about patients made to sleep on the floors. Have you visited the place to understand the reality? I will not tolerate this,” Siddaramaiah said.
Again when Sivasailam tried to defend himself, the Siddaramaiah asked him not to argue with him and told Sivasailam to visit the hospital first and give him a report. CONTINUED: P5