Deputy decries graft suppression
Al Wefaq Deputy Mohammed Yaqoob Al Mozil has lashed out at the Ministry of Health for "interfering with the parliamentary health investigative committee and suppressing corruption."
"I am ready to stand trial for highlighting corruption in the ministry," the deputy told the Tribune yesterday, adding he was ready for any action the ministry took against him.
According to Al Mozil, a citizen had informed him that a technician working at the Salmaniya Medical Complex had been found intoxicated.
Y. Asirvadam was allegedly found to be under the influence while on duty. The MP took him for a blood test which reportedly upset the ministry and prompted it to say that it was responsible for any action taken.
The deputy said it was not the first time the technician had been caught in such a condition.
"In 2004 he reported for duty without wearing his shoes and tests revealed 66 ml of alcohol in his blood.
He is putting the lives of people in danger," Al Mozil said.
The MP alleged that despite the reports, the Health Undersecretary, Dr Aziz Hamza, did not stop the technician from working.
Al Mozil who heads the parliamentary also took a serious exception to Minister Dr Nada Haffadh referring the panel as 'Tsunami"
"The minister calls the committee Tsunami and then says they are ready to cooperate. There is contradiction in her statements," Al Mozil said.
The ministry set up an investigative committee to probe the case. The committee is headed by Mariam Al Jalahama and has Dr Adel Al Jishi, Fatima Ahmed and Ibrahim Ismail as members.
By Sandeep Singh Grewal
© Bahrain Tribune 2007
