PANJIM: The State government in the past few weeks has paid five to six times over the market price for the procurement of medical consumables for the treatment of COVID-19.
Documents available with Herald, and details availed from private distributors, indicate that the price paid by Directorate of Heath Services and Goa Medical College is higher than the prevailing market rate.
The purchases have been done without the approval of the Finance Department as the finance came from either the NHM and National AYUSH Mission funds provided by the Central Government for which Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) and National AYUSH Mission is empowered to approve, or through the District Mineral Fund/COVID Relief Fund for which necessary procedure has been followed by the Collectors/Revenue Department.
Directorate of Health Services and GMC had submitted the details of purchases made as per the needs and also to keep buffer stocks for days to come in view of the outbreak of COVID-19. As of now supplies have still not normalised as most items are not indigenously produced and sourced from other States. Until the situation normalises to ensure the health and safety of health personnel, the institutes will place orders to suppliers depending on availability, quality and delivery time.
“It is submitted that government had accorded approval to the Directorate of Health Services to procure the items as mentioned from any supplier having ready stock without tender, and later submit for post facto approval for the same. So also, approvals for procurement made from NIIM funds were obtained from the Mission Director National Health Mission (NIIM)/Secretary (Health) as per the directives given during the earlier Cabinet meeting,” the Cabinet note said.
Small consumables, which are available at a cheap price have been bought in lakhs of pieces for a huge price.
As per information availed from Indiamart, Amazon and local distributors, there is a clear cut over-pricing of every product that has been purchased by DHS as well as the GMC.
The State has made purchases from – Wellness, Chaitanya Enterprises, Molbio Diagonostics, Drogaria Colvalkar, Mahavir Plastics, HLL Lifecare, Sateri Homeo, Mattxux Learning technology, Molbio Diagonistics, Rolex Machinary, Laxmi Health Agency, Tapascharya Enterprises, S D Biosensors, Zacson Agency, GAPL, Scoop Industries, Kamaxidevi Homeopathy etc.
Another surprising point is that when there is no evidence of cure from ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines for COVID-19, the State has purchased medicines worth Rs 1,12,67,2020 of those pathy.
