New Delhi: The Anti-Corruption Branch of Delhi government is probing an alleged nexus between some companies and a few Delhi government hospitals for use and supply of poor quality surgical equipment.
An FIR had been registered and notices were being sent to the involved parties, sources said on Friday. A Special Investigation Team has also been constituted to investigate the case.
The hospitals under the lens are Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Lok Nayak and Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital.The allegations pertain to use of poor quality surgery equipment and items, such as gloves, cotton bandages and infusion sets.
The FIR, a copy of which is with TOI, reveals that the items were sent to testing labs during surprise checks by the vigilance wing of the health department. It also emerged that in place of cotton threads, Chinese plastic wires were allegedly being used and these were not up to ISI standards. Officials said the role of some doctors and officials of the health department was under scanner.
In October last year, ACB and health department officials had received several complaints about spurious and poor-quality surgical items being used at some hospitals. ACB chief Madhur Verma confirmed to TOI that a case had been registered. Health department teams visited the six hospitals and collected samples of various surgical and ICU items. These items were tested at designated laboratories. Many of the samples were found spurious, or of poor quality, and unfit for medical use.
Secretary, health and family welfare, SB Deepak Kumar, said a case was registered on the directions of the health department. He said the department had already ordered blacklisting of the suppliers.
In a statement, Delhi government said: “All these items were procured from the central government portal called GeM. The vendors submit a test report to GeM after which the latter allows them to be sold to different state governments. The Centre should ensure that poor quality products are not sold to state governments on its portal. As per the financial guidelines, even before going for an open tender for any product, the government agencies are mandated to procure them from GeM.”
In October last year, a letter from the office of deputy secretary, health and family welfare department, was received at ACB, mentioning the lab testing reports of medical materials and recommending legal action on the same. During the course of the inquiry, many lapses were found in procurement and supply of medical goods in all the six hospitals. It was alleged that many manufacturers and traders were operating as a ‘cartel’ with collusion of known/unknown public servants belonging to hospitals and health department. This cartel allegedly supplied poor quality surgical items at exorbitant prices.
The cotton bandages, gauzes, etc., provided by the suppliers also failed the tests during surprise checks by the vigilance wing of the health department.
An FIR had been registered and notices were being sent to the involved parties, sources said on Friday. A Special Investigation Team has also been constituted to investigate the case.
The hospitals under the lens are Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Lok Nayak and Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital.The allegations pertain to use of poor quality surgery equipment and items, such as gloves, cotton bandages and infusion sets.
The FIR, a copy of which is with TOI, reveals that the items were sent to testing labs during surprise checks by the vigilance wing of the health department. It also emerged that in place of cotton threads, Chinese plastic wires were allegedly being used and these were not up to ISI standards. Officials said the role of some doctors and officials of the health department was under scanner.
In October last year, ACB and health department officials had received several complaints about spurious and poor-quality surgical items being used at some hospitals. ACB chief Madhur Verma confirmed to TOI that a case had been registered. Health department teams visited the six hospitals and collected samples of various surgical and ICU items. These items were tested at designated laboratories. Many of the samples were found spurious, or of poor quality, and unfit for medical use.
Secretary, health and family welfare, SB Deepak Kumar, said a case was registered on the directions of the health department. He said the department had already ordered blacklisting of the suppliers.
In a statement, Delhi government said: “All these items were procured from the central government portal called GeM. The vendors submit a test report to GeM after which the latter allows them to be sold to different state governments. The Centre should ensure that poor quality products are not sold to state governments on its portal. As per the financial guidelines, even before going for an open tender for any product, the government agencies are mandated to procure them from GeM.”
In October last year, a letter from the office of deputy secretary, health and family welfare department, was received at ACB, mentioning the lab testing reports of medical materials and recommending legal action on the same. During the course of the inquiry, many lapses were found in procurement and supply of medical goods in all the six hospitals. It was alleged that many manufacturers and traders were operating as a ‘cartel’ with collusion of known/unknown public servants belonging to hospitals and health department. This cartel allegedly supplied poor quality surgical items at exorbitant prices.
The cotton bandages, gauzes, etc., provided by the suppliers also failed the tests during surprise checks by the vigilance wing of the health department.