Probe ordered over purchase of lab equipment by DHS

Meanwhile,members of Docsfed India — through a memorandum to the chief minister — have demanded a high-level probe into the alleged bungling in the purchases made by the DHS during the last five financial years. They have also asked for a probe into the rates at which the material was purchased from private firms.

Dr D C Sharma,president of the Docsfed India and General Secretary of PCMS-I Association,alleged that while there had been largescale bungling in the purchase of filter papers,chemicals and glass wares,including research pipettes and the single channel pipettes in 2011-12,similar purchases were also made in 2008-10.

“Purchase worth Rs 1.3 crores of a single item was made from a local vendor when it should have been made directly from the manufacturers. In 2008-10 as well,a similar kind of purchase of chemicals and other materials was made from a local supplier,who allegedly bought these items from an Ambala-based firm and supplied to the Punjab Health Department at three times the market rates. The probe must inquire if the same vendor has been making supplies in the market,” said Sharma.

The probe should find out whether the demand for certain items like filter papers and pipettes was need based or was created at the behest of the representatives of the supplier firm due to some extraneous factors,he added.

The federation also demanded that the entire rate contracting procedure during the last five years should be scrutinised thoroughly to find out whether the same supplier has been getting the rate contracts in connivance with the concerned departments under one name or different names,whether there were any friendly tenders,only by the same firm,in the name of other firms and whether the process was transparent. And why,the bulk purchases were not made from the original manufacturer?

According to the federation members,most of these chemicals and laboratory equipment are needed at the hospitals and health centres that come under the Punjab Health Systems Corporation and the supplies are to be ensured by the corporation. What was the special interest of the Punjab DHS to purchase and supply such items in such a big quantity,especially by ignoring purchase of medicines? the members asked.