New Delhi (ISJ) ? Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, under flak for removal of a whistle blower as Chief Vigilance Officer of the premier All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences has announced a review of all central hospitals for ?systemic and symptomatic corruption?.
AIIMS Chief Vigilance Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who unearthed several corruption cases at the premier medical institute, was removed from the post without assigning any reason.
Dismissing the political storm over the move, Dr. Harsh Vardhan clarified Chaturvedi ?has neither been suspended, nor transferred,? but only given a re-profiling to his job.
?Mr Chaturvedi?s designation as CVO was opposed by the CVC in 2012 and 2013. Disregarding the CVC?s directives was part of a design to weaken the institution. In 2011, the then government had tried to demolish public faith in the CVC by appointing a tainted bureaucrat as its head. This appointment had been struck down by the Supreme Court. I therefore did my bit to restore the image of the CVC,? Dr Harsh Vardhan said in an official release.
Official records however, show the Health Ministry had followed the due process and procedure while appointing Chaturvedi as CVO and approval of CVC was obtained.
There were media reports, Dr. Vardhan?s action was prompted at the behest of BJP General Secretary J.P. Nadda. The health minister however, did not react to charges of political interference in the removal of Sanjiv Chaturvedi.
While ordering a review of all centrally administered hospitals, Dr. Harsha Vardhan said, ?There are many aspects to corruption in hospitals which as a medico I know exist. If money is made in the allocation of beds or as kickbacks from suppliers, it is sleaze. What is equally corrupt is the silent practice of reserving beds and facilities for employees or VIPs. I intend rectifying both these forms of corruption.?
