Medical equipments lying idle for more than 2 years
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 02 2018: Bizarre it sounds but 64 medical equipments which were bought by the Medical Department at the cost of around 3.68 crore, have been found lying idle for the last 26 months.

This came to light as per the audit report published by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the financial year 2017, till March 31.According to the report, when CAG scrutinised the documents at Directorate of Health Services in August 2016, it was learned that supply order was issued to three firms based in Delhi for the procurement of 26 different medical equipments (185 units in all) costing around Rs 6.83 crore.

The supply order was issued in March 2015 and it was mentioned that the medical equipments were to be supplied within two months of the issuance of the supply order.

The said items were meant for 50 bedded District Hospitals at Senapati, Bishnupur, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.

The report mentioned that as per the stock register, the said equipment was stated to have been received during May 2015 and July 2015 and the firms were paid the full amount of the supply order during May 2015 to May 2016.As per clause 7 (a) of the terms and conditions of the notice inviting tender for the supply of equipment (September 2014), it was mentioned that no advance payment can be made and the full payment for the supplied items shall be made only after the receipt of the items and the completion of installation and commissioning of the said items.

The report further stated that the price paid for 13 equipment (comprising of 73 units) was Rs 6.32 crore inclusive of installation charge of Rs 53.28 lakh and the audit noticed that the equipment were not installed in August 2016.The matter was reported to the Department in September 2017 and in response (in October 2017 and January 2018), the Department submitted the installation reports of only nine units namely a dental chair each at Bishnupur (December 2015), Senapati (January 2016), Ukhrul (March 2016) and Tamenglong (October 2016) as well as the installation of an anaesthesia work station each.

However, till February this year, there were no records for the installation of the remaining 64 items costing around Rs 3.68 crore which was inclusive of the Rs 31 lakh as installation charges, even two years after procurement.

When questioned why the equipment were not used for such a long time, the Department stated that the equipment could not be transported and installed due to prolonged economic blockade along the National Highways and in the hills of the State.

However, the CAG declined to accept the reply as the equipment had already been received in July 2015.It mentioned that there was no economic blockade for a prolonged period after receiving the equipment except the economic blockade from November 2016 to March 2017.As such the equipment had been lying idle for around 26 months without any valid reason till February this year.

And the non installation and commissioning of the equipment has deprived the beneficiaries of the facility despite incurring huge expenditure, the report stated.

The three Delhi based firms are RS Company, SS Enterprises and MS Tract Manufacturing Company.

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