DYFI stir against ‘huge costs’ at SCTIMST

Illegal construction, purchase, recruitment alleged

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) is set to organise a stir against the continuance of the exorbitant increase in treatment costs that were introduced on an experimental basis January last at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST). The DYFI has alleged that everything from registration fee to surgery costs have almost been doubled, rivalling even private hospitals.

Although the justification for the increase was financial difficulties, crores of rupees has been spent illegally on construction of new buildings and in the purchase of equipment. The free treatment facility for economically backward patients is not being given to the stipulated percentage of such patients, the organisation alleges.

Deputation basis

It has also questioned ad hoc appointments of those above 60 years of age and the filling up of posts on deputation basis with those close to the management. Among such appointments mentioned by the DYFI are those of the Senior Deputy Director, Construction Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Administrative Officer, Senior Account Officer, and Financial Adviser.

The costs of these appointments per year is estimated to be around Rs.75 lakh. There has been no control over such costly appointments despite increasing the registration fee from Rs.250 to Rs.500 in the name of a financial crisis, it alleges.

Though the institute comes under the Central government, the appointments are not conducted through government agencies. The staff nurse posts were filled in November from the old rank list, after taking money from the appointees, the DYFI alleges.