The Hindu : Irregularities in H.P. hospitals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

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Irregularities in H.P. hospitals

SHIMLA MARCH 30 . The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General , tabled in the Assembly on the last day of the just concluded budget session, has highlighted massive irregularities in the purchase of medicines, machinery and equipment. A test check of the purchases revealed that to avoid the process of tendering, hospital furniture, equipment and medicines valued at Rs.1.67 crores were purchase from a private firm during 1997-2000 which misrepresented itself as a registered supplier of Super Bazar, New Delhi, a Government of India undertaking.

During a period spanning five years the Director of Health Services purchases medicines and equipment worth Rs.39.52 crores.

These purchases also included hospital equipment and furniture items valued at Rs.93.32 lakhs which were available with the controller of Stores and could be procured at a cost of Rs.34.64 lakhs. This resulted in extra avoidable expenditure of Rs.58.63 lakhs.

Linen articles valued at Rs.49.70 lakhs were purchased between May 1998 and May 1999 from the Handloom Corporation whereas they could be purchased from rate contract firms for Rs.24.19 lakhs only. This resulted in extra avoidable expenditure of Rs.25.51 lakhs, says the report.

It has further mentioned that Director of Health Services Drew Rs.2.23 crores in March from the treasury for various purchases, out of which Rs.2.19 crores was converted into bank drafts, which has adversely affected the ways and means position of the State Government besides giving undue favours to the Bank. Manufacturing expiry dates of medicines valued at Rs.106 crores purchased were not found recorded in the invoices and bills of the supplies.

The report says that sanction in March 1998 of the government for Rs.2.18 crores under ''Material and Supplies'' was tampered with and the amount drawn under ''Machinery and Equipment''. This amount was converted into bank draft and remained unutilised till February 1999.

The case for tampering with the sanction was under investigation with the Vigilance Department since July 2000.

It has also been pointed out that the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diseases aimed at AIDS, tuberculosis, blindness and leprosy, were not adequately monitored or evaluated.

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