The Times of India: Bathinda: Tuesday, March 27, 2012.
BATHINDA: Information procured by an activist under the RTI Act has exposed a medicine purchase scam involving lakhs of rupees in a local hospital.
As per the revelation, Bhai Mani Singh Civil Hospital of Bathinda purchased medicines at higher rates, when it could have bought the same at comparatively much lower rates.
The hospital also did not spend the mandatory 45% of total money used in buying medicine on the welfare of patients, for their medicines, laboratory tests and other requirements.
The hospital spent just 6% of the total money, said Sonu Maheshwari, who got the information under RTI.
He said that the hospital administration purchased medicines between 2007 and2011 from Patiala at higher rates while in Bathinda, the cost was very low.
The hospital purchased tromodol injections from Patiala at Rs 8 per injection while its cost in Bathinda was only Rs 3.96, as was earlier purchased by the hospital, Maheshwari said.
While dextrose drip, which was purchased from Bathinda at Rs 10, is now being purchased from Patiala at Rs 24 per bottle. The hospital has been purchasing medicines from outside the state as well, the RTI information revealed.
Dr Satish, SMO of civil hospital, said he would comment only after going through the files.
When contacted, health minister Madan Mohan Mittal said that he would order strong action taken against officers involved in the scam.
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