Govt foots costly medical bills of ministers

Charanjit Bhullar

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 29

Medical bills of ministers and MLAs are causing a dent in the state exchequer. In violation of rules, crores are being spent on the treatment of these VIPs overseas. Health Department rules clearly state that only such treatment may be obtained abroad that is not available in the country.

Information obtained under the RTI Act shows that the government recently spent Rs 21 lakh on minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon’s treatment in the US. The Health Department had stated in its approval that the treatment was available at the AIIMS, Delhi; Medanta, Gurgaon, and Rajiv Gandhi Hospital but the latest treatment was available in the US. The minister chose to be treated in the US.

Minister SS Rakhra sent the department a bill of Rs 4.08 lakh incurred on the treatment of his wife at Max Super Hospital, Delhi, in March 2014. But the department has approved only Rs 2.09 lakh. It has approved Rs 3.26 lakh against a bill of Rs 3.91 lakh in case of Tota Singh. The latter’s son Barjinder Singh is chairman of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation. Tota Singh had undergone treatment at Metro Heart Hospital, Noida, in July last year.

Then minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura got his wife treated at the Fortis Hospital, Mohali. The government paid a bill of Rs 4.32 lakh. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander got his mother treated at the Fortis Hospital, Mohali. The state paid a bill of Rs 2.43 lakh.

Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike got his family members treated at Delhi and Mumbai hospitals and the state paid Rs 3.23 lakh on their treatment. Then minister Khushal Behl underwent surgery at Delhi and Chandigarh. The government paid Rs 3.77 lakh for it. Legislator OP Soni got his parents treated at Mohali and the state paid Rs 6.17 lakh for it. Legislator Laal Singh got treatment at the Fortis, Mohali, for which the state paid Rs 3.20 lakh. The government spent Rs 1.01 crore on medical bills between 2007 and 2012.

Legislators and their medical expenses

• Rs 21 lakh spent on minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon's treatment in the US recently 
• Rs 2.09 lakh approved, against Rs 4.08 lakh sent, for minister SS Rakhra; the amount incurred on the treatment of his wife at Max Super Hospital, Delhi in March 2014
• Rs 3.26 lakh, against a bill of Rs 3.91 lakh, approved in the case of minister Tota Singh, who underwent treatment at Metro Heart Hospital, Noida, in July 2014
• Rs 2.43 lakh paid, against a bill of Rs 4.32 lakh, to Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander for the treatment of his mother at the Fortis Hospital, Mohali
• Rs 3.23 lakh paid to minister Gulzar Singh Ranike for the treatment of his family members at Delhi and Mumbai hospitals 
• Rs 3.77 lakh paid to then minister Khushal Behl who underwent surgery at Delhi and Chandigarh
• Rs 6.17 lakh paid to legislator OP Soni, who got his parents treated at Mohali 
• Rs 3.2 lakh paid to MLA Laal Singh, who got treatment at the Fortis, Mohali

Prior approval a must 

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Director Karanjit Singh says the members are allowed overseas treatment only if it is not available in the country. Prior permission is essential for treatment in a foreign country and slabs are fixed for treatment of VIPs.