Editorial
WB fund stuck up
Coordination failure at our end
It is no secret that the health sector, like many other areas of public concern, is also plagued by planning anomalies. But the report that the health ministry's failure to submit operational papers in time has delayed its gaining access to World Bank funds ($ 74 millions) for procuring essential drugs is indeed a shocking revelation. Such insensitivity to and neglect of routine exercises is something unheard of.There have been belated attempts to offset the ill effects of the lapse. The ERD wrote to the WB last month asking for 'immediate support' and a contingency plan was approved by ECNEC on April 18 and signed by the prime minister. However, as far as the functioning of the government is concerned, this is an example of how the bureaucracy makes last-ditch attempts to regain control over a situation, after failing to take appropriate action in time. Lack of coordination in governmental activities in such a basic matter is a far from acceptable. The issue has a direct bearing on the health services provided to the people in rural areas. The services are known to be inadequate and these can only worsen further when essential drugs are not procured due to bureaucratic procrastination. Delay in getting funds released from the international agencies created similar problems in the past also, but it seems the ministry concerned has not learned anything from its experience. Now the question is, whose heads should roll for the dislocation caused to supply of medicines? There is no way to take the issue lightly, given the grave nature of the lapse. The responsibilities must be fixed clearly.
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