Proactive corrective steps were taken after the sterilisation tragedy: Chhattisgarh CM
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has thrown light on the circumstances that led to the sterilisation tragedy in the state. In an exclusive interview, he admitted the shortcomings of the state government and steps that would have prevented the disaster.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has thrown light on the circumstances that led to the sterilisation tragedy in the state. In an exclusive interview, he admitted the shortcomings of the state government and steps that would have prevented the disaster.
Q: How did something like the sterilisation tragedy happen in Chhattisgarh? How do you explain it?
A: The basic problem was one of procurement. Ninety per cent of the drugs the state purchases is through a centralized system, through a board. Just 10 per cent we have sanctioned to the districts, for emergency purposes. That procurement system, at the district level, failed. It's our bad luck that this happened. But we are determined to change the system.
Q: Doctors have complained that they were under pressure to meet sterilisation 'targets' set by the state. Is that true?
A: There is no such thing as 'target' for sterilisation. Those are just projections that we have, to target and bring in that many families under family planning: condoms, IUDs, everything. That 'target-setting was something the doctors were doing themselves in competition with each other, so they could boast about how much they have done for family planning.
Q: There's a feeling that your government has been trying to shift attention from medical negligence at mass camps to fake and contaminated drugs. What would you say?
A: Both happened at the same time. For the first three days, I thought it was sheer medical negligence. Now the reports are coming in. Zinc phosphate has been found, with effects showing up after 12 hours or so. So it seems there was medical negligence as well as contaminated drugs.
Q: There is public anger in Chhattisgarh. People have called for the resignation of the Health Minister. There's a feeling that you are shielding him. Your response?
A: See, resigning is not the way out. It just leads to system failure. Our focus is on how to improve the system. Modiji spoke to me on phone and asked me to do the best we can. We have done that. Our immediate reaction was to get the best of medical help from Bangalore, Hyderabad, from AIIMS in Delhi. We have suspended some, removed some, arrested some, set up a judicial probe, given compensation. As a doctor, my first thought was, is this also possible? I have worked as a grassroots physician in poor slums for years. Ever since, it happened, I haven't been able to sleep. The women affected are like my daughters. It has really affected the reputation of our state. So there will be constant monitoring now. We are taking stringent action. We are introducing gender equity as part of family planning. We will be focused on campaigns to raise awareness about the benefits of late marriage, timing, birth spacing etc. I have learnt a lot from this incident.