PANJIM: While the Goa Medical College and Hospital is crying for funds for various things like procurement of new machines and medicines, machines worth crores of rupees, have not been functioning for nearly five years now.
This is a case which seems to defy all logic, as the GMC has purchase sterilisation machines (CSSD) worth nearly Rs five crore in 2010 but till date aren’t functioning. The machines were bought when Vishwajit Rane was the Health minister, Dr VN Jindal was the Dean and Dr Rajan Kunkaliencar was the medical superintendent.
While the GMC and Health department are trying to get the machines working, the Comptroller Auditor General as well as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are seeking replies from GMC, as they say it has violated all norms of procurement.
Central Sterile and Supply Development (CSSD) machines used for sterilizing medical equipment consist of steam sterilizer double door with built in electric steam generator, low temperature formaldehyde sterliser, washer disinfector pass through model including accessories, drying cabinet, automatic glove conditioner, ultrasonic cleaner, automatic sealing device with accessories, spray gun air/water 100 per cent to sterliser.
The machines were manufactured by Belimad AG, Switzerland and supplied by Entack Corporation, New Delhi.
The CAG report in 2011 severely criticised the procurement which it deemed illegal.
“The purchase section of GMC invited the tenders by publishing in three local dailies and one national daily, ignoring the guidelines of the CVC for publishing in IT Journal as the equipment was an imported one,” the CAG report says.
CAG says the entire process of tendering and selection of agency was pre-determined as the tender specifications were tailor made for equipment manufactured by Belimad AG. There was no specific demand for replacement of existing equipment from GMC.
“The procurement was initiated at the instance of the health minister’s directions on Entack’s proposal,” the CAG has charged.
Also, it said, due to non-preparation of site and non-completion of civil works in time by the PWD, the equipment delivered in April 2010 was installed and commissioned in May 2011 and remained idle for a year, resulting in exhausting of warranty period of one year without the equipment being put to use.
Replying to these audit observation the then dean of GMC V N Jindal replied that GMC did not feel the need to advertise in IT journals as it had advertised in national dailies but says that due care would be taken in future while publishing such tender notices as per guidelines.
Further, the GMC says, after scrutiny of tender purchase committee rejected all tenders except Entack Corporation on grounds that other companies had deviated from specifications.
GMC upheld purchase committee decisions and referred the single tender in government for its acceptance and it was approved. GMC also rejected the charge that specifications were tailor made for Entack, saying these were provided by then Medical Superintendent.
On charge that the site was not prepared, the GMC said that the due care would be taken in future to prepare the required site and civil works.
PAC member Nilesh Cabral, speaking to Herald, confirmed that the committee is inquiring into the matter since 2015 and three meetings have been held.
“It is shocking how machines are bought flouting all rules remained unutilised for five years. The PAC is looking into the matter seriously and will summon all those connected with the purchase,” he said.
It is pertinent to note that leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, father of former Health minister Vishwajit Rane, is the chairman of PAC. Ganesh Gaonkar is the other member of the committee.
Health Minister Francis D’Souza when contacted for his comments said that his priority is to get the machine working.
“We’re facing difficulties at GMC on sterlisation of equipment and we have made almost 15 communications to the suppliers as well as manufacturers but they are unable to rectify the error,” he said.
On CAG observations and PAC inquiry, D’Souza says “I can’t say anything much as I have no knowledge. The GMC officials and the former health minister may have an answers.”
