Poll code hits AP schemes

The election code is blocking free health care and emergency services to the poor. Soon after the poll code came into force on March 2, election officials directed the health department to not identify new beneficiaries under the Rajiv Arog-yasri, or issue them cards.
“On average 2,200 patients visit the screening camps every day, of whom 20 per cent are recommended for surgery and 15 per cent for in-patient treatment,” a senior official of the Arogyasri Trust said. “The code will deprive these patients of health care.”
Poll officials also created a fuss over a vital meeting to sort out problems facing the 108 ambulance service. Sources said the government had decided to hold an emergency review meeting on the service over the refusal of some suppliers to provide stocks till their dues were cleared.
When health officials asked the chief electoral officer for permission to hold the meet, the latter is believed to have asked them to defer it. Officials said any problem in running the service would affect thousands of people in danger. “While imposing the code, the Election Commission makes it clear that regular governance shall not be affected. But several decisions are defeating this spirit,” a veteran minister said.
For instance, election officials directed the housing department to not release funds for construction of about 27 lakh houses. The department had already identified the beneficiaries under the Indiramma scheme and approved release of the money. “Most of the beneficiaries are agricultural labour who prefer to start construction in April and May, which is the off-season for them, the minister said.
Sources said the government had a tough time in resolving the doctors strike in the Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences. While doctors insisted that talks should be held at the ministerial level, officials and ministers refused to get involved fearing action under the poll code.The civil supplies department also suspended conversion of 13 lakh pink ration cards into white cards though the decision to convert them was taken before March 2.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/neutral/code-hits-healthcare-648