Thiruvananthapuram: The state govt has ordered a comprehensive probe into all major procurements made by the health department over the past decade, while also directing a separate inquiry into alleged irregularities in the purchase of bleaching powder by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL).Health minister K Muraleedharan directed the health department principal secretary to constitute an expert committee comprising senior officials and technical experts to examine the procurements. The panel has been asked to submit its report within two weeks, identifying irregularities, if any, fixing responsibility and recommending further action.The inquiry will cover all govt medical colleges, hospitals and other institutions under the health department. It will review procurement, installation, commissioning, utilisation, maintenance and present status of medical equipment purchased under State Plan , Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), other centrally sponsored schemes and equipment supplied by Centre during Covid.The minister said the govt received several complaints regarding the purchase and utilisation of high-value medical equipment over the past decade. Allegations include oxygen concentrators, autoclave machines, solar power plants, generators and other expensive equipment remaining uninstalled or uncommissioned despite being procured with public funds. In several cases, inadequate maintenance rendered equipment unusable, resulting in financial loss to the govt, wastage of public assets and disruption of healthcare services, he said.Muraleedharan said he personally found costly medical equipment, including a mobile mortuary unit, lying unused during a recent visit to Wayanad Govt Medical College. Similar instances have reportedly been identified in other govt medical colleges and hospitals, prompting the statewide review.In a separate order, the minister directed the principal secretary to investigate allegations of irregularities in KMSCL’s procurement of bleaching powder following media reports that purchases made between March 11 and May 6 led to an avoidable expenditure of Rs 7.32 crore.The inquiry will examine whether KMSCL adhered to prescribed procurement procedures, complied with tender conditions, purchased the bleaching powder at competitive prices and ensured its quality and proper utilisation. It will also assess whether the procurement caused any financial loss to the govt.The principal secretary has been directed to submit a detailed report on the bleaching powder procurement within a week, along with recommendations for further action.
