Srinagar: SKIMS as a trusted institution of immense significance cannot afford to falter any in domain of working given the public trust on it.
However, from last few months, serious concerns about institutions functioning are in public domain though print, electronic and social media. The authorities at the helm of affairs have been denying charges and whether or not the justifications are prudent or otherwise is for the government to see and fix.
The SKIMS is not just any other hospital. It is a premier medical facility and the hope for the people of J&K.
It stands reason why public gets alarmed whenever reports about mismanagement, corruption, nepotism or scams about the institutions are brought to fore.
As has been the cases recently, SKIMS rebutted the claims of any scam on the purchase of equipment. SKIMS Director went on to claim that SKIMS has a mandate to operate the orders of PGI Chandigarh, AIIMS Delhi and Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai.
During the last one year, there have been a series of purchases made on the analogy of orders of private institutes and hospitals, which the government has not approved. Private institute orders were entertained and equipment worth millions purchased, allegedly causing huge loss to J&K’s exchequer.
Reports suggest that procurement of Crash Cart Trolley purchased from M/S MMS Medical Agency vide order no SIMS 324-49-2020(Eq)-3426-30 dated 02.11.2020 against analogy of Dayanand Medical College & Hospital Managing Society Tagore Nagar and Civil lines Ludhiana vide order ref – MM/2019-20/8504 dated 30.01.2020.
Is it not the purchase made on the analogy of a private is a grave irregularity? If sources are to be believed, it was done to benefit a supplier linked through relation with incumbent Director.
Another high value equipment was purchased on the analogy of private institute QIA Symphony System for COVID-19 screening through M/A Al- Haram Engineering. The unit was purchased by SKIMS on repeat order. However, the order was placed on the order of Medical Diagnostic Corporation Channel dated 23.06.2017 and administrative approval by the SKIMS Director was granted on 18.04.2020. Total cost involved was Rs. 1,11,02,132.00 ( exceeding One Crore Eleven lakh rupees). Questionably, the order is from a private institute (not a government institute) M/s. Medical & Diagnostic Corporation, Ashok Nagar, Chennai and cannot be considered for the purchase of repeat order. No Government organisation can purchase equipment on reference of a private institute order, which is again gross violation to the rules. Astonishingly also, M/S Qiagen Pvt Ltd did not supply this, as mentioned in the order issued by SKIMS.
As already under scanner, the repeat order is almost three years old (and not within a year, which is the norm) and that too not from a government approved institute, the sources said. Furthermore, they said, the value of the item is not such that after 2017 they would not have supplied equipment to another institute.
Moreover, the repeat orders of the other dealers are rejected on the basis of them not pertaining to the one- year time stipulation.
While the question remains that can SKIMS management apply different yard sticks to benefit a few and disregard genuine, reputed and cost-effective dealers, no official could be contacted for comments.
Meanwhile people demand government to step in and ensure that rules are not violated with impunity and accountability is ensured in all dealings in the institution.
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