Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Aug 6: The Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department has initiated an inquiry into the issue surrounding the payment made to the supplier of a CT Scan Machine at the District Hospital (DH) in Kulgam, which allegedly was against the set norms.
As per details, despite the availability of a contract under the Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance Program (BEMMP), the hospital reportedly made payments for repairs without utilizing the designated program.
In response to this concerning issue, the H&ME Department has formed a 3-member committee tasked with investigating the matter. The committee’s primary objective, as per the H&ME, is to identify the source of funding for the improper payment and assess the financial loss incurred by the exchequer.
It is noteworthy that the BEMMP, launched in J&K in 2019, aimed to streamline the repair and maintenance of medical machinery and equipment across all hospitals in the Union Territory.
According to the program’s guidelines, whenever a hospital reports faulty equipment, the responsible agency under BEMMP should promptly carry out the repairs. However, in the case of the defective CT Scan Machine at Kulgam District Hospital, the supplier was apparently commissioned to perform the repairs, and the hospital made corresponding payments.
When approached, the concerned authorities at DH Kulgam were unable to provide the exact details of the payment made to the supplier stating that the case pertains to the tenure of a previous administrator.
Taking cognizance of the matter, the H&ME Department has directed the committee to investigate the Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) payment made to the supplier, despite the existence of a standing contract under BEMMP that covers all hospitals in J&K.
The 3-member committee comprises the Managing Director of J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) as the Convenor, the Director of Health Services for Kashmir, and the Programme Manager of BEMMP under the National Health Mission, J&K, as members.
Officials emphasized that such practices are unacceptable when there is already a designated contract under the BEMMP. They highlighted that the BEMMP system has efficiently mapped and tagged various biomedical equipment in different healthcare facilities, even down to the Primary Health Center (PHC) level, and ensures regular maintenance through a dedicated 24/7 call centre.
“The committee shall, inter-alia, find out the loss caused to the public exchequer, besides the source of funding from which the payment has been made to the firm for this AMC, etc.,” H&ME said.
Furthermore, the committee has been given a 15-day deadline to submit its comprehensive report, including recommendations and corrective measures to prevent similar misuse of funds in the future.
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