In the Health Department, scams seem to never end. The procurement of hospital furniture has now been linked to a scam worth Rs 13 crore, following the sanitisers and masks scam. According to the Vigilance Bureau, furniture worth Rs 22 crore was procured during the pandemic at inflated rates.
Dr GB Singh, the Director Health Services (ESI), and Dr Gagandeep Singh Grover, who was in charge of Stores and Purchases, and Dr Karamjit Singh were under scrutiny, according to sources.
As a result of the government’s report, the Vigilance department began investigating the Department of Health and Family Welfare’s procurement of hospital furniture worth Rs 22 crore at inflated prices.
Based on documents available, the Directorate of Health purchased furniture worth Rs 22 crore on December 31 last year under a rate contract signed by the Department of Industry’s Controller of Stores. Approximately Rs 9 crore was allegedly spent on furniture purchased in the market.
A rate contract was signed with “Geeken” by the Controller of Stores. A different firm, however, procured furniture allegedly from Geeken for Rs 9 crore and sold it to the Health Department for Rs 22 crore, rather than directly from Geeken.
Two more scams have recently been uncovered by Punjab Health Systems Corporation, including the purchase of furniture and blood cell counters worth Rs 6.5 crore and Rs five crore, respectively. Similarly to the purchase of sanitisers and masks, both items were purchased at inflated prices.