By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 1: A new company will take over the 108 emergency ambulance services within two weeks, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said on Wednesday, amid controversy surrounding the tendering process.
The minister, who had earlier in the day met with the 108 service employees, expressed satisfaction that seven firms had entered the bidding process for the first time and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of the workers.
She disclosed that all the companies submitting their bid were asked to present a detailed strategy for the 108 employees.
This plan comprises a number of insurances that were guaranteed by all bidders, including health, ex-gratia, and accident coverage. The 108 workers must also receive a yearly rise of 7% as per the bid document.
Two bidders accused
of violating norms
The tendering process for selecting a firm to run the 108 emergency services in the state is getting murkier after fresh objections were raised over the credentials of some of the bidders.
A letter from one of the bidders to the Mission Director of the National Health Mission said a couple of bidders violated the “conflict of interest” rule mentioned in the tender document.
According to the letter, two bidders – Medulance and Kubera Transport Solutions (Rakshak) – have an active business relationship in a project (CATS) with the Delhi government.
It was also said that Rakshak is executing a subcontract of a part of the order given by the CATS (Centralised Accident and Trauma Services), New Delhi to Medulance about a year ago.
“Both bidders have also claimed the same experience of the same work order of CATS,” the letter said.
“Considering this, we sincerely request you to take appropriate action as both bidders become ineligible for this bid. In any tendering process across the country, conflict of interest is treated as an extreme violation of ethics and amounts to collusion,” the letter said, adding that it should result in the disqualification of both the parties involved.
NHM’s Mission Director, Ramkumar S said that a clarification has been sought from CATS on the matter and their reply is being awaited.
Meanwhile, EMRI Green Health Services (formerly known as GVK EMRI) has denied the claims of the NHM that their agreement was terminated, insisting that the project contract with EMRI GHS was closed by NHM, Meghalaya mutually after the last tender period came to an end on June 30, 2022, and the state government initiated the process for a new tender.
The AGM in charge of operations of the EMRI Green Health Services said they are a pioneer in emergency management services in India. As a not-for-profit professional organisation operating in the public-private-partnership mode, EMRI Green Health Services is the largest professional emergency service provider in India today, the official said.
The AGM also said that they have served the citizens of Meghalaya for more than 13 years since February 2009 during which a total of 3 lakh emergencies were handled with 30,000 lives saved and about 2,500 deliveries assisted.