<p>In a state where health services are characterised by rampant corruption and absentee doctors, the idea of conducting sting operations to nab the offenders will yield results — only if such operations remain secretive and deceptive.<br /><br /></p>.<p>When Uttar Pradesh health minister Ahmed Hasan declared that the health department will conduct sting operations to expose corrupt practices in the department, none doubted his intention.<br /><br />“The sting operation will help us ascertain the true state of affairs in the health department as well as nab corrupt elements,” said Hasan. “A handful of people are <br />tarnishing the image of the entire department,” he said. <br /><br />But Hasan’s open declaration took the ‘sting’ out of his plan. “The minister should not have disclosed that the health department is planning to conduct such operations,” said a senior health official. <br /><br />“Secrecy and deception are the key elements of any sting operation. The declaration will come as a warning, and those involved in corrupt practices will now be on the alert,” he said.<br /><br />Hasan did not stop here. He also made it clear that such operations will be conducted at places from where a large number of complaints had been received. <br /><br />It appears doubtful whether the department will succeed in catching the offenders since such operations have become an open secret.<br /><br />In shambles<br /><br />Health services in UP are in shambles. Recently, ward boys and sweepers were found giving stitches and injections to patients at government hospitals. <br /><br />UP also saw a huge scam in implementation of the National Rural Health Mission scheme.<br />A few months ago, auxiliary nurse midwives were found engaged in delivery of babies under candlelight as there was no power and the generator was not working at a community health centre in Barabanki.</p>
<p>In a state where health services are characterised by rampant corruption and absentee doctors, the idea of conducting sting operations to nab the offenders will yield results — only if such operations remain secretive and deceptive.<br /><br /></p>.<p>When Uttar Pradesh health minister Ahmed Hasan declared that the health department will conduct sting operations to expose corrupt practices in the department, none doubted his intention.<br /><br />“The sting operation will help us ascertain the true state of affairs in the health department as well as nab corrupt elements,” said Hasan. “A handful of people are <br />tarnishing the image of the entire department,” he said. <br /><br />But Hasan’s open declaration took the ‘sting’ out of his plan. “The minister should not have disclosed that the health department is planning to conduct such operations,” said a senior health official. <br /><br />“Secrecy and deception are the key elements of any sting operation. The declaration will come as a warning, and those involved in corrupt practices will now be on the alert,” he said.<br /><br />Hasan did not stop here. He also made it clear that such operations will be conducted at places from where a large number of complaints had been received. <br /><br />It appears doubtful whether the department will succeed in catching the offenders since such operations have become an open secret.<br /><br />In shambles<br /><br />Health services in UP are in shambles. Recently, ward boys and sweepers were found giving stitches and injections to patients at government hospitals. <br /><br />UP also saw a huge scam in implementation of the National Rural Health Mission scheme.<br />A few months ago, auxiliary nurse midwives were found engaged in delivery of babies under candlelight as there was no power and the generator was not working at a community health centre in Barabanki.</p>