Lapses in procurement process at JNIMS detected
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 29 2012: The Procurement Committee of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) had failed to follow the necessary procedures in the procurement of new equipments purchased at the time of setting up of the institute, a reliable source has revealed.

The source said that as the Procurement Committee headed by the Health Minister failed to ink maintenance agreements with the respective firms at the time of procurement, maintenance of these equipments is likely to become an upheaval task after the expiry of warranty period.

The Procurement Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of the Health Minister at the time of setting up of the institute.

However, JNIMS authority is unable to trace the related documents for the new equipments procured at the time of establishment of the institute, added the source.

Saying that maintenance of the equipment by the respective firm generally becomes a must after the expiry of the warranty period, the source said that an agreement must be signed with the company at the time of purchase of the equipment.

Maintaining that some of these equipments have not been used till date, the source further said that ultra sound, CT scan, ICU and ICCU equipments and machines fitted at operation theatre and modular operation theatres were the equipments procured at the time of setting up of JNIMS.

As there is neither procurement document nor maintenance agreement in the institute, the source said, it would be better to purchase a brand new one if the equipment breaks down as the maintenance rate would be obviously high.

The State Government released Rs 90 crores for the development of JNIMS for the fiscal year 2011-2012 .

Out of this, Rs 33 crores was handed over to the Procurement Committee for acquiring new equipments, Rs 41.55 to PWD, Rs 13.45 to PDA and Rs 2 crore to Power Department.

JNIMS is being run by a society under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister with necessary fund provided by the State Government.

Proper maintenance and functioning of the unused equipments are needed to earn more revenue by JNIMS as the institute is likely to face financial problem when the fiscal condition is grim with the State Government.

Another source said that equipments must be procured through open or shortlisted tender.

The lowest bidding firm must be given the chance to supply the equipment with due recommendation from a specialist, the source added.

The rate must get prior approval from the Government Purchase Advisory Board.

Maintaining that equipments must be procured only from the firms/companies which are approved by the Government Purchase Advisory Board, the source further said that it must also be enquired whether the firm has post sale service.

After having a direct communication with its officials, the firm must be asked to install the equipment.

An agreement must also be signed with the firm for the maintainance of the equipment after the expiry of the warranty period, added the source.

It further said the current problem being faced at JNIMS is due to procurement of equipment skipping the said procedures.

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