Kandi BMO reacts sharply to CMO’s show-cause notice

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, May 24

Reacting sharply to the show cause notice issued by the chief medical officer (CMO) in case of a pregnant woman being denied ambulance due to alleged paucity of funds, BMO Dr Iqbal Malik has said he was on an earned leave, with intimation to the CMO, from May 13 to 24. He said Dr Ajaz Ahmed was the officiating BMO.

On May 17, Dr Sunil Sharma, CMO of Rajouri, issued a show cause notice and withheld the salary of Block Medical Officer (BMO), Kandi, as a doctor at Budhal primary health centre had refused ambulance to a pregnant woman the same day.

The woman was brought to Rajouri hospital in a hired vehicle and her baby died during the delivery. The incident had gone viral on social media.

The CMO, in the notice, had mentioned that Dr Shahzad, the doctor at the health centre, had denied ambulance because of paucity of funds (for oil), which was also confirmed by the BMO on duty.

“Instead of issuing a show cause notice on my name, it should have been issued to the BMO on duty. Secondly, I never conveyed paucity of funds to the CMO, as was mentioned by him in the show cause notice,” Dr Malik said.

He said he rejoined the duty on May 18, instead on May 24, and during verification of the Budhal PHC accounts it was established that on May 17, when the patient was denied ambulance, the account balance in Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) was Rs 2,691 and Rs 9,600 in hospital development fund account.

The BMO has also sought explanation from the doctor and initiated an inquiry into the whole episode. As per the statements (written) of the doctor and the ambulance driver, the ambulance was in Rajouri for repairs that day.