The Delhi government had formed the CPA as a common platform to fulfill the need of medicines and equipment in various government hospitals.
Pointing out gross irregularities in the functioning of the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) of Delhi government's Health and Family Welfare Department, the outgoing Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Beena Khurana, has suggested a special audit of the agency.
The Delhi government had formed the CPA as a common platform to fulfill the need of medicines and equipment in various government hospitals. In a 22-point letter dated January 16, which DNA has possession of, Khurana has raised several concerns regarding the overall functioning of the procurement agency.
"A lot of complaints in relation to the tendering process were received. Memorandums were issued to the CPA Director, whose reply was found to be grossly unsatisfactory. DGHS had to issue a warning to the Director. In view of the above, I feel that it will be in the best interest of the department and the government that a special audit be conducted in CPA's functioning in the last five years," Khurana stated in the letter, which was submitted to the Principal Secretary, Health, for approval.
The letter also hinted at manipulation of funds. According to sources, the CPA budget was used to float tenders in the name of Delhi Health Corporation Limited (DHCL). "The tendering process was not followed in a transparent manner," a senior Delhi government official said.
Khurana was recently transferred from the post of DGHS and Dr Kirti Bhusan was appointed in her place. Meanwhile, CPA Director Dr Vijoy Kumar said: "I am not aware of this letter as I have been out of the office for some time. There have been a few queries from the Vigilance Department. We are the most transparent procurement agency in the world and we are ready to show all the files to those who have any doubts."
This is not the first time that the CPA has come under the scanner. In a letter to the Delhi Health Department, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had asked the department to submit details about procurement of medicines through the agency. DNA had reported about the CBI letter on January 6. CBI has asked the department to submit the records during the dengue period for the year 2015-2016, at the earliest. In July 2015, AAP had constituted the CPA to centralise the purchasing process. The agency, however, failed to receive a positive response.
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