18 August,2010 03:55 PM IST | | Astha Saxena
Following a massive scam in the procurement of emergency medical equipment for the Commonwealth Games, the administration has decided to go by a uniform rate regime for all government hospitals in Delhi.
Hospitals which follow the Central Procurement Agency rules will also have to follow the new regime.
The new rates have been devised by the Directorate of Health Services at a meeting on Monday evening.
MiD DAY found that one of the companies contracted to supply emergency medical equipment to 22 hospitals in the city, as preparation for the Commonwealth Games, does not even have a registered office. The other was already blacklisted at the time of bidding for the tender.
The two companies - Lord Krishna and Mangalam Medicaments - have already backed out of their commitment to supply equipment ranging from stethoscopes and scoop stretcher to ultrasound machines.
Reportedly, these companies were under the scanner as they had allegedly secured the order for supplying the medical equipment for Commonwealth Games despite quoting exorbitant rates.
Though the exact amount of the contract for procurement of medical equipment is not known, sources in the Health Department say it is worth several crores as the hospitals in the city were being upgraded to meet any emergency during the CWG, when lakhs of people are expected to visit the city.u00a0 The list of these hospitals includes all prominent names including AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, GTB Hospital and several others.u00a0
The medical apparatus was to be used for emergency services, including cardiac failure, injuries, various functions in the OPD and Operation Theatre.u00a0 In a letter, a copy of which is with MiD DAY, Directorate of Health Services, Delhi, has written to all these hospitals not to accept any equipment from these two firms as they have shown their inability to provide the same.
ILLS EXPOSED
In contravention of a directive of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding rotation of staff working in departments like stores and finance, many officials in Delhi hospitals have not been transferred for several years.
The letter issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare stated:u00a0 "No one should remain in sensitive departments like stores and finance etc for more than two years at a time.
The medical superintendent will furnish details of rotational transfers of staff in the stores to DGHS on 1st April each year and in case of irregularity or misappropriation or any misconduct occurs, the responsibility of retaining officials for more than two years, will be of medical superintendent and the higher authorities".
"We are right now busy with other things. Why are you bringing up such issues now?" asked S Bhattacharjee, director, DHS when MiD DAY sought his reaction to the issue.
"There are some people who willu00a0 now be shifted from the stores," Bhattacharjee added.
