AP: Health Minister seeks action over allegations against District Medical Officers

Speaking at a review meeting held at the Secretariat on Tuesday, May 13, the Minister expressed disappointment over the performance of certain District Medical and Health Officers (DMHOs) and District Health Services Coordinators (DCHSs).

The meeting focused on the implementation of various district-level health initiatives. According to The Hindu, during the review, the Minister praised Krishna district for leading in performance, followed by Vizianagaram and Prakasam. However, he noted with concern that Anantapur and other Rayalaseema districts were underperforming, both in Primary and Urban Primary Health Centres, as well as in Government Secondary Hospitals.

Mr. Yadav stressed the urgent need to enhance health services in these lagging regions. He also addressed serious concerns regarding alleged bribery in administrative appointments. The Minister revealed that some officers were reportedly soliciting money in exchange for job placements, which he condemned unequivocally.

To counter this, he proposed that public notices be issued in newspapers affirming that all selections are based solely on merit, cautioning candidates not to pay bribes. He further recommended that junior-level officials be transferred every three years to prevent misuse of power, and that DMHO performance reviews be conducted biannually to ensure accountability, reports the Daily. The Minister also instructed that all district-level officers must conduct routine visits to Government Secondary Hospitals under their purview to monitor service delivery and uphold healthcare standards.

Medical dialogues had earlier reported that six government doctors in the state were under scrutiny after Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav accused them of corruption, absenteeism, dereliction of duty and issuing illegal disability certificates. The accusations are based on findings from multiple investigation reports highlighting their misconduct.