Ahmedabad, 17 February, 2012

For last few years, Gujarat’s all civil hospitals have started taking money from the patients and their relatives in the name of Rogi Kalyan Samiti fund.

While implying such fund, the government had said that it would be used for poor patients, their fees, their medicines etc.

However government’s reply to an RTI application filed by MJP is now showing the real story behind usage of Rogi Kalyan Samiti fund.

A reply on MJP’s RTI application on 24th of January 2012 shows that in 2011 a Rogi Kalyan Samiti(RKS) of Ahmedabad’s Civil hospital collected of Rs 5,63,56,452. This entire sum was spent on other works and not a single rupee was actually spent for Rogi Kalyan, or say patient welfare!!

Collection from poor patients and their relatives under the title of the ‘Rogi Kalyan Samiti’ was started in year 2006. As per the RTI reply given to MJP’s Sureshbhai Patel, the total amount collected by Ahmedabda’s Civil hospital under Rogi Kalyan Samiti Fund between 2006 and 2012 was Rs 32,63,53,296. Out of this only 3,61,49,363 were spent for welfare of patients, while rest of the sum was spent on ‘other works’. This means only 10% amount of total collection was used for the motive with which the fund was created.

Remember, this is just the picture of Ahmedabad’s one Civil hospital. The entire story of all civil hospitals in Gujarat can be even more shocking.

MJP release says that in the name of welfare of patients, the government is looting poor people. This should be stopped immediately.