Nagaland Post: Dimapur: Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
Taking up the issue of procurement of sub-standard medical equipment needed to fight COVID-19 pandemic and the highly irregular manner in which procedures were manipulated, four RTI applicants, not being satisfied with the reply by Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW), are knocking for justice at the door of Nagaland Governor R.N. Ravi.
The four RTI applicants— Niketu Iralu, Robert N. Solo, Kuolachalie Seyie and Visedel Kin—have urged upon the Governor to intervene in the matter by ordering a probe into the purchases of sub-standard medical equipment, manipulation of procedures and fixing responsibility on those responsible for misappropriation and putting lives of people and health care professionals at risk.
The four in their representation highlighted the driving force behind these questionable procurements to a statement on April 21 in Kohima by the state health minister who said that these were done under “panic order and purchase”, as reported in another newspaper. The four also cited earlier news reports by this newspaper on April 12 and April 13 revealing lack of preparedness by the government, which they said depicted “strong lack of seriousness of government in its response to the global pandemic.”
The four pointed out that the DoHFW replied that it had received Rs.4143.88 lakhs as on April 25 of which the expenditure was Rs.12,27,24,000. They said DHFW replied that an amount of Rs.30,50,26,000 was due and therefore the shortage(deficit) was Rs.1,33,62,000.
They also informed the Governor that the DHFW had claimed to have legally constituted its Purchase Committee (PC)on March 26, 2020 with the following as members—Director (Health) designated as chairman and the following as members: Addl. director Purchase; state programme officer NHM, jt. director Purchase, dy director Purchase, sr. accounts officer, expert(s) official(s) as co-opted member.
However, according to the four, the above PC was in name only since the “actual Purchase Committee was also legally formed by the government in supersession of the above Purchase Committee with only four members- Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao (Director DoHFW), Dr. Kevichüsa (director NHM), Dr. Longai Phom (dy. director) and Dr. K. Sorhie (jt. director).
Again, they said the above four named members were “never informed and their appointment was kept in the dark till 04.04.2020.”
Also the four said even after formation of the PC, the signatures of the members were missing from every document of purchase order and details. They said this clearly indicated that the PC was “regularly bypassed and trespassed” even after formation to serve vested interests. There was no record of any quotation being invited nor any open tender as mandatory, they pointed out.
On various medical items procured through questionable procedures, the four claimed that only a very few of the items had Standard Packaging with Certification label while most of the items such as PPE, N95 masks had non-standard packing with ordinary labels or ordinary labels with non-standard packaging. All 500 Dead Body Bags supplied (for COVID-19 victims) were non-air sealed with very loose stitching and porous.
They said that often full amount of money was paid in advance before receipt of the items and done without the knowledge or consent of the Purchase Board or Verifying Committee ‘under the pretext of “panic order and purchase” as claimed’.
Interestingly, the four pointed out that the procurement and receipt of all materials which were to be supervised under standard protocol by the four-member Purchase Committee (PC) were completely ignored. Instead, the four pointed out that the functioning of the PC was usurped by the store in-charge (DoHFW); sr. accounts officer (DoHFW); principal director (DoHFW). They said alleged that the triumvirate (store in-charge, Sr.Acct Offr and PD) purposely procured inferior quality PPE, N95 masks and surgical equipment at exorbitant rates, some of which were yet to reach the DoHFW store.
They said when there was hue and cry by health workers over failure to constitute the PC to check quality of medical equipments, some officials “volunteered” on their own volition to act as Verifying Committee to save the situation. The volunteers included-- Dr Neikhrielie Khimiao, Director of Health and Family Welfare as convener and the following as members: Dr Thorhuseh Katiry, Dr Margaret, Dr. K Sorhie jt. director DoHFW, Dr. Longai Phom dy. director store DoHFW and co-opted members-- Dr. G Thong, Dr. John Kat, and Dr. Sendimeren.
The four said the volunteering VC held a sitting on April 15 for the specific purpose of to certify PPE, masks, triple-layer masks to be despatched to various districts. However, all were rejected by the frontline workers due to poor quality and not being usable.
The four said the above VC was not given a free hand to verify, certify or check the items for COVID-19 when consignment arrived in the store.
The four also countered the reply to their RTI application from DHFW that all items received till April 25 such as 56,000 PPE, 42,000 N95 masks, 2,76,000 Triple-layer masks, 11 ICU ventilators, 50 CPAP machines, 9 transport ventilators, 1007 B type oxygen cylinders,119 A-type nitrous cylinders, surgical items, medical equipment, drugs etc were verified and approved by the quality control committee and purchase committee. They said instead there exist neither verification document nor any signature of any of the members in file noting.
The Store in-charge of the department acted as Designated Officer to receive all consignments and distribute them without any guidelines under the pretext of “emergency situation” bypassing and ignoring duly designated officers.
Further, it was revealed that the DHFW did not ensure any safety or quality for PPE since the items had no information about the quality, label, manufacture or expiry date or standard specification.
In order to favour a firm, they said one firm- M/s Cozier Enterprises (Unit No.3426, Arya Pura, Old Subzi Mandi, Delhi-110007) issued a letter to the DHFW that it “had to forgo the standard packaging” to supply PPE kits due to non-availability of standard packaging materials”.
They also pointed out that DoHFW failed to furnish details of how quality assessment by various committees were done and the procedures followed. They also said the DHFW did not provide details of quoted rates, purchase rates along with GST and MRP of all items purchased till date which the RTI had sought.
In the light of the above, the four applicants have urged the Governor to immediately intervene by ordering a probe, recall all the substandard items to safeguard lives of frontline health workers and also to bring those involved in misappropriation and offences to book.
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