Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 3: There are allegations that irregularities have happened when procuring things at the government Lady Goschen Hospital here. It is said that the officials have indulged in direct purchase by bending tender rules.

As per rules, procurement for items worth over a lac rupee has to be done at competitive rates by calling for tenders. The officials, it is said, restricted each of their purchases to Rs 99,750 to avoid lengthy procedures, and thus misused the provisions for their benefit. Higher officials of the hospital are thought to be hand in glove in this scandal.

For example, during the year 2019, the hospital made three direct purchases from a company at Tiptur within a month. On January 5, 2019, about 500 operation theatre towels were bought from the said concern at a cost of Rs 99,750. Two days later, on January 7, 200 gowns costing Rs 99,750 were bought from the same concern. On January 16 that year, 170 gowns costing Rs 98,175 were bought from this concern. The total purchases without tender made from this company during the 35 days works out to Rs 3,96,900.

If all these things are procured at one stretch, tender process has to be put through. It was ensured that each of the bills did not individually exceed one lac rupees. At the same time, people are questioning the need to buy things for the hospital from Tiptur, which is far away.

There are allegations that the hospital is making purchases for more than market price. In 2018, nine three-seat chairs were bought at the rate of Rs 9,250 each amounting to Rs 98,.235. These chairs are available in open market for about Rs 500 per chair. It is said that not only the price at which purchases are made are high, but several items were procured even though they are not needed.

Companies which donate to provide various equipments to the hospital normally contact the hospital officials. These officials normally buy things and the bills are paid by the companies. One such item provided to the hospital was Hamilton Ventilator that was procured on behalf of a company in 2019. The hospital bought it for Rs 12 lac and the company concerned paid the bill, but experts say that ventilators are available for nine lac rupees.

Lady Goschen Hospital has an ultra sound machine that has not been functional. In January 2019, the medical superintendent of the hospital certified that this machine cannot be repaired. The machine remains unused since long. Surprisingly, during March 2018, an amount of six lac rupees was remitted to a company in advance for its repair and this amount is outstanding.