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| Erstwhile J&K regimes deliberately lapsed funds for critical care ambulances | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 8: The alleged laidback approach of erstwhile regimes in Jammu and Kashmir could be gauged from the fact that operationalisation of critical care ambulances could not be made possible by the government even when the Centre had made requisite funds available for the purpose.
To purchase and supply medicines, surgical equipment, machinery/ vehicles for various medical colleges and hospitals of the State Government and to relieve the service providers (Head of the Departments/ Doctors) of the additional burden of procurement and distribution process, the State Government approved establishment of Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (Company) which was incorporated on 5th March 2014 under the Companies Act, 1956 and functions under the administrative control of the Health and Medical Education (HME) Department.
As per the official documents in possession of the Early Times newspaper, Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited invited tenders in the month of November 2015 for ‘Operationalisation of 102 Ambulance Service across the State’ by way of installation of Healthcare Equipment, GPS system in 150 ambulances (BLS ( Basic Life Support System): 123 and ALS (Advance Life Support System): 27 and setting up of two data centres and operation thereof, against which only two bidders participated.
Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) decided in April 2016 to open the financial bids wherein L1 had offered to execute the project at Rs37.10 crore.
The SLPC, after 253 days from holding of meeting of financial evaluation committee, accorded approval of the rate contract on January 7, 2017 and the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited issued in January 2017 LoI- Letter of Intent to the successful bidder at a cost of Rs 25.48 crore for operationalisation of ambulance services. However, the bidder sent (March 2017) termination notice, citing abnormal delay in facilitating the start of the project, including non-handing over of building and ambulances and increase in input cost and the rate contract was cancelled in September 2017.
The Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited again floated NIT in the month of November, 2017; however, rate contract could not be finalised , despite the fact that Rs 3.18 crore were received from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare GoI, in March 2016.
Thus, delay in finalisation of rate contract and facilitating the start of the project by way of handing over the building/ ambulances led to cancellation of the contract and the project could not be executed despite availability of funds.
It is pertinent to mention here that healthcare has always been the most ignored sector in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir with funds being lapsed with impunity and sans any remorse by those at the helm. |
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