SHILLONG: Congress MLA George Lyngdoh suggested adopting e-tender for all departments to ensure the tendering process is transparent, accountable where bidders can compete in a healthy environment.
He was raising a Call Attention Motion to the allegations of corruption in Health Department during the Special Session of the Assembly.
According to him, adopting the process of e-tender would take away the burden from the departments rather than going for the manual system.
He added e-tender for all departments in the state will protect the interest of the people as well.
Not satisfied with the reply of the Health Minister AL Hek to his call attention motion, Lyngdoh stood up and asked whether e-tender would be in place.
Hek said it was discussed in the health department but it depended on the quantum of the amount and all tender cannot be e-tender.
Prior to this, the Health Minister said distributors/suppliers/agents/loan licenses are not eligible to participate in the tender floated by the Directorate of Health Services (MI) on July 13, 2018 for the supply of IV fluids.
Again, the Directorate of Health Services (MI) has floated the tender for supply of drugs and chemicals on November 5, 2018, Hek informed.
In both the cases, the manufacturers who are having an average annual turnover of not less than Rs 50 crores per annum during the last three consecutive years are eligible to participate in the tender.
“The purpose of the selection procedure was to attract the participation of reputed and capable manufacturers with proven track record. The Pre-Qualification (PQ) criteria were exhaustive, yet specific and there is fair and adequate competition. It was ensured that the PQ criteria are clearly stipulated in unambiguous terms in the bid documents,” he said.
Hek maintained that the suppliers and distributors are not eligible to participate in the tender floated by the Directorate of Health Services (MI) and only the manufactures are eligible to participate.
“Government has no role in appointment of authorized distribution/suppliers and it solely rest upon the manufacturers. Thus, the allegation of nexus between distributors/suppliers and officers of the department does not arise,” Hek said.