Panaji: Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) is deliberately purchasing medicines from a private pharmacy instead of procuring drugs through a tender process, Congress alleged on Sunday.
State Congress president Girish Chodankar also alleged that health minister Vishwajit Rane is involved in the Rs 30-40 crore scam.
Responding to the allegations, Rane said GMC has a “well-tested procedure” for local purchases in order to meet medical exigencies. He said he was ready to debate with Chodankar on the issue and on the state’s health sector.
GMC has three routes to procure medicines; a mechanism to procure medicines as per the new list of essential medicines (NLEM) and non–NLEM tenders, a short tender process for medicines not covered under the first mechanism and a local purchase route for emergency situations for drug or surgical items not in stock with GMC.
“The health minister has instructed the dean and chairman of the purchase committee, Dr Shivanand Bandekar, and GMC officials to not give any additional orders and not float any short tenders, but to procure medicines only from the private firm at market prices which are 300% to 400% higher than the approved tender prices,” Chodankar said.
The Congress state president said that Rane should be asked to resign.
Rane, however, rubbished the allegations. “When a tender goes for financial approval, it gets delayed for three to four months. But medical treatments and critical procedures cannot be stopped till the finance department gives approval,” he said. “Girish is making allegations against good doctors and they will leave and go.” The health minister also said he would not take such allegations “lightly”, but failed to specify what he meant by that statement.
State Congress president Girish Chodankar also alleged that health minister Vishwajit Rane is involved in the Rs 30-40 crore scam.
Responding to the allegations, Rane said GMC has a “well-tested procedure” for local purchases in order to meet medical exigencies. He said he was ready to debate with Chodankar on the issue and on the state’s health sector.
GMC has three routes to procure medicines; a mechanism to procure medicines as per the new list of essential medicines (NLEM) and non–NLEM tenders, a short tender process for medicines not covered under the first mechanism and a local purchase route for emergency situations for drug or surgical items not in stock with GMC.
“The health minister has instructed the dean and chairman of the purchase committee, Dr Shivanand Bandekar, and GMC officials to not give any additional orders and not float any short tenders, but to procure medicines only from the private firm at market prices which are 300% to 400% higher than the approved tender prices,” Chodankar said.
The Congress state president said that Rane should be asked to resign.
Rane, however, rubbished the allegations. “When a tender goes for financial approval, it gets delayed for three to four months. But medical treatments and critical procedures cannot be stopped till the finance department gives approval,” he said. “Girish is making allegations against good doctors and they will leave and go.” The health minister also said he would not take such allegations “lightly”, but failed to specify what he meant by that statement.
