By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 4: The state government has formed the Meghalaya Medical Drug and Service Ltd Society (MMDSL) to streamline all procurements of medicines and equipment.
Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Wednesday said the MMDSL was conceived to streamline all procurements through a transparent, timely and cost-effective process.
She was reacting to concerns raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report over the procurement of two essential medicines at rates higher than those approved by the Central Purchase Board.
The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) found itself in hot water after failing to provide convincing justifications, resulting in an avoidable expenditure of approximately Rs 87 lakh for the department.
“We are just about completing all formalities for the functioning of the MMDSL. In fact, a few things were left to get done and it is already in operation,” Lyngdoh said.
She added that the MMDSL is chaired by the principal secretary (Health) while all secretaries, MD of NHM and two DHS (MI) and (Health and Family Welfare) are its members.
“It is a competent authority having the wherewithal, financial capacity and ability to bid for the lowest bidder in order to gain maximum for the benefit of the citizens of the state,” the minister said.
She also said that it is very important for the state government to get back to the CAG report which clearly indicated in 2019 that there was a procurement of medicines which was in contradiction to the usage as well the pricing at that time.
“It is also true that there is a guideline for the Health Department to issue necessary procedures in order to understand why that was done at that point in time. Government departments, particularly bureaucracy, is well conversant with procedures of this nature and as and when or if it is to be done, bureaucracy will give those directions,” Lyngdoh said.