Chennai: DMK MLA P H Manoj Pandian on Friday questioned the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation’s (TNMSC) role in procuring gold rings for newborns, asking whether the corporation had the mandate or expertise to scrutinise tender bids for gold for the Thaimaman Thanga Modhiram scheme.Participating in the Assembly discussion, Pandian said the procurement should have been handled by the social welfare department. “You cannot bring gold under the medical equipment category. You have made gold into equipment and are allowing TNMSC to procure it,” he said.Health minister K G Arunraj responded stating the govt was seeking to reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure incurred during childbirth and encourage more people to opt for deliveries at government hospitals. “Since we want to encourage people to have deliveries in govt hospitals, we want to give the gold during discharge. We discussed it with all officials. The scheme will be executed well,” he said.Pandian, however, objected to the response and read out TNMSC’s procurement rules, pointing out that its stated mandate was to procure medicines and drugs.Responding, Arunraj said the MLA was looking at the issue technically and that the rules could be amended if required. Pandian again objected, saying, “You cannot amend basic objects.”Towards the end of the session, Arunraj again responded saying the previous regimes had procure baby kits including toys and food items, through rules that permitted to procure ancillary items. These are procured under the same rules. “We consulted legally and are only executing this. The scheme will be executed well,” the minister said.Pandian responded, saying the govt must look into this as it will all be audited. “The ancillary items procured previously were related to health,” he said.
