Bijay Charak
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 31: The officials of J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd (JKMSCL) have authorised a 'blue eyed' bidder to purchase dental equipment worth crores on rate contract issued by a non-local corporation.
The state government had established JKMSCL for procurement of drugs, medicines and medical equipment, etc for the department of Health and Medical Education and other health institutions through a rigorous procurement process involving stringent quality checks at every levels.
But astoundingly, the senior officials of JKMSCL, without following such process, issued orders to a 'blue-eyed' company to purchase dental equipment in reference to the rate contract issued by Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited.
Sources said that if such equipment was purchased from 'outsider corporation' than what's the fun for establishing its own corporation. On one hand J&K spent crores of rupees for establishment of offices and manpower of corporation, but on the other the officials seems unaccountable regarding procurement and supply of drugs, medicine, surgical and suture items to government health institutions. "The officials, without doing hard work, issued orders to particular company for supply of dental chair with unit through RMSCL rate contract," said sources.
It is pertinent to mention here that JKMSCL has crucial role in setting standards of quality, transparency and accountability to procurement of medical supply to government health institutions.
Sources further said that it's beyond logic why JKMSCL officials are so lenient towards the 'blue eyed' contractor. Some years ago, the officials had, without inviting tenders, issued an order to the same company for procurement of equipment worth Rs. I.12 crore to Indira Gandhi Dental College Hospital Jammu.
"The 'exigency' shown by the government to procure the equipment without floating tenders was to benefit relatives, who represented the company in J&K, of some officials in the JKMSCL and dental college", sources said.
At that time, the higher officials of corporation gave lame excuse that the decision to procure the equipment on emergency basis came from the Health department. |
