A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has unveiled shocking irregularities within Jharkhand’s healthcare system, prompting strong reactions from political figures. The audit indicates extensive financial mismanagement, unutilized COVID-19 relief funds, procurement of substandard medicines, and a critical shortage of medical personnel, casting doubt on the state government’s management of public health resources.

JDU legislator and anti-corruption advocate Saryu Roy has taken a leading stance in demanding accountability, launching a fierce critique of the state’s health department, particularly focusing on former Health Minister Banna Gupta.

Roy accused Gupta of allowing inferior-quality medications to be procured and of misappropriating COVID-19 relief funds. “Central funds intended for public welfare have been misused. Those accountable, including the former health minister, must be held responsible,” he declared.
He has persistently called out irregularities in the health sector, having previously exposed a ₹103 crore scam involving the inclusion of 60 fictitious employees on the payroll. His ongoing campaign has put the state government on the defensive, although he has faced accusations of leaking confidential government documents. Nevertheless, the court granted him anticipatory bail, enabling him to persist in his anti-corruption efforts.
The CAG report reveals that as of March 2022, 2,210 of the 3,634 sanctioned medical officer positions were unfilled, alongside 3,033 nursing and 864 paramedic roles. Hospitals in Dhanbad, Dumka, Gumla, Garhwa, Seraikela-Kharsawan, and Simdega reported staffing shortages of up to 65%. Additionally, six government medical colleges suffered significantly, with 45% of faculty positions vacant.
The audit also indicates that the Jharkhand government failed to fully utilize the COVID-19 relief funds allocated by the Centre. Of the ₹756.42 crore available, only ₹436.97 crore—merely 32%—was spent. Similarly, ₹539.56 crore out of ₹754.61 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund remained unspent until February 2022. Consequently, essential pandemic infrastructure projects—including RT-PCR laboratories, pediatric care centers, and oxygen plants—experienced delays or remained unfinished.
BJP state president and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi has voiced similar concerns, calling for a white paper on the governance of the past five years. “The CAG findings confirm our fears—financial mismanagement, corruption, and plunder have characterized the Hemant Soren government. The state must explain the disappearance of these funds,” he asserted.
Further raising concerns, the CAG report highlights ₹19,125 crore in government spending without utilization certificates, which poses serious questions about transparency and accountability.
In contrast, Health Minister Irfan Ansari dismissed the accusations as politically motivated. “Despite facing challenges during the pandemic, we have enhanced healthcare infrastructure. The opposition is misrepresenting facts,” he stated.
Adding to the controversy, the audit uncovered flaws in welfare schemes. In a particularly troubling finding, women in Bokaro and Dhanbad received maternity benefits for consecutive childbirths within months of each other, revealing gaps in the implementation of maternal welfare programs.
With Saryu Roy and the BJP ramping up their criticism and the government under pressure, the healthcare crisis is poised to become a focal point in Jharkhand’s political discussions in the coming weeks.