Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) has sacked his Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Dr. Rajaiah from his cabinet for lack of proper action on the spread of swine flu in the state and alleged corruption in the Health Department relating to transfers and appointments of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in the state.

According to sources, it is believed that the chief Minister has got some credible information relating to health minister’s hand in deliberately transferring employees and appointing his men in key positions encouraging corruption. Based on credible intelligence report, the CM has taken swift action by sacking Dr. Rajaiah and initiating action against 3 key officials including Srinivas Reddy, Chief Administrative officer, National Health Mission (NHM); Sambashiva Rao, Secretary Health; and B. Raju, registrar Medical and Health University in Warangal (MHUW).

As part of government’s action on corruption in Health Department, the Chief Minister has dropped Sambashiva Rao, from his responsibilities as Health secretary of Telangana and given additional charge to Jyothi Budda Prasad, Director for Family welfare in the state. Similarly, Srinivas Reddy and B. Raju have been sacked from their posts as Chief Administrative officer NHM and Registrar MHUW.

According to intelligence report, it is said that Dr. Rajaiah in connivance with top officials had planned to buy 290 ambulances through a pre-planned process, and had illegal transaction with an agent belonging to Force Company for supplying the ambulances. To show that the process of procurement of ambulances is transparent and as per rules, the officials also appointed a small scientific committee and had called a short term tender to accommodate the company of their choice. Based on the committee’s report they had finalised the prices of each ambulance anywhere between Rs.16 to 17 lakh. Intelligence report also revealed that Srinivas Reddy, Sambashiva Rao and others had made arrangements to take a bribe of Rs.1 lakh for each ambulance from Force Company agent.

Similarly, as part of National Health Mission Programme, the government was to appoint 1500 paramedical staff and 1000 doctors. Even in this issue, the officials had dropped the earlier process of contract based recruitment which would be finalized by the district collector, but instead they had introduced outsourcing method which gave them a free hand to select an agency of their choice for appointing the required healthcare staff. Sources revealed that Sambashiva Rao had selected an outsourcing run by his close associates and had a pre agreement to take Rs.3-5 lakh for appointing a doctor and Rs.1-2 lakh for appointing an paramedical staff.

Based on these inside reports, and citing reasons for not taking adequate steps to contain Swine flu in the state, CM KCR has sacked Rajaiah and concerned officials.