RTI activist accuses Health Dept of giving wrong information

Amritsar, July 29

A local RTI activist has filed a complaint with the Director, Health Services, who is also the first appellant authority, against the Public Information Office (PIO) of the Department of Health Services. He accused the PIO of giving wrong information under the Right to information (RTI) Act.

The activist, Ravinder Sultanwind, said, “I had sought information regarding the amount spent by the department for constructing diagnostic centres and pharmacies at all health institutions. These new buildings were constructed for the new scheme under which tests are conducted free of cost and poor patients get free medicines. Instead of giving the information, the department’s PIO has given information regarding the amount spent on supplying medicines to these centres.”

He alleged that if employees of the department did not understand an application written in Punjabi, the department should check their education credentials.

Sultanwind in a complaint to the Director, Health Services, alleged that the officials concerned were unnecessarily harassing RTI applicants and trying to suppress the facts. — TNS