'Irregularities' in procurement of surgical sutures
12/23/2016
Nitesh Sangral
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 23: A complaint has been filed in Crime
Brach, Jammu, against J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) for
violation of norms and favouring a multinational company in procurement of
surgical sutures.
It has been alleged that the rates offered by other
firms were 60 percent less than those of the company approved by the JKMSCL.
A copy of the complaint in possession of Early Times
says that tendering process for sutures is "blatantly and unduly
biased" towards Ethicon Division of Johnson & Johnson Limited and that
'odd' tender specifications are drawn in a manner to ensure that only the
selected company's products meet the technical specification.
"It proves that Ethicon has an allegedly deep
rooted links in the JKMSCL and are well competent to virtually monopolize the
terms and condition, specification and other parameters to suit their own
requirements," the complaint said.
"The tender (process) was tailor-made to favour a
particular company. This was already highlighted and discussed during pre-bid
meeting held in the office of JKMSCL. It was assured that the decision of
procurement shall be made only on the basis of the evaluation of suture
material by the users in different fields," it said.
Six bidders had participated in the tender process.
The complaint says that despite assurances of JKMSCL
officials to evaluate the samples before reaching any conclusion in
finalization of rate, contract was approved in favour of the same company
without justifying the rejection of other participants.
As per standard procedure all samples of the bidders
should have been evaluated by the technical committee in their hospitals and
then feedback would have been captured and recorded to ensure transparency.
"But on the contrary, the committee out rightly rejected
the five bidders," said the complaint.
It also said that after few days the financial bids
were opened and only one tender has been qualified and the rest rejected
without evaluating their samples, which raises serious questions on the working
of the Corporation.
The JKMSCL has finalized the rate contract and placed
order to a particular firm on 9 percent discount offered on entire range of
items quoted in the tender.
"But after couple of days, the 9 percent discount
was reduced to 4-6 percent for the reasons best known to them," the
complaint said. "The rates were reduced, and JKMSCL accepted the revised
proposal to give benefits to the company despite opposition and rejection by
HoD Surgery, GMC Srinagar, Dr Showkat Jeelani who was committee member of State
Level Purchase Committee as he sought that the company provide items as per
decision already taken in first meeting on (April 26, 2016)," the
complaint said.
It also alleged that on May 7, 2016, JKMSCL came up
with a proposal to change committee members to only reduce discount by the same
company.
Moreover, the company has supplied stock to both stores
of JKMSCL in Jammu as well as Kashmir division, which was in violation of the
requirements of labeling and color coding prescribed by JKMSCL for the supply
of goods as mentioned in tender terms and conditions.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of JKMSCL Dr Yashpal
Sharma denied all allegations leveled by JK Healthcare Suppliers Association. He
said most of the Heads of Departments didn't accept sutures from other
companies except for Johnson & Johnson. Dr Sharma claimed that the
tendering process was clean.
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