CAG finds fault with Director, Health Services

CAG finds fault with Director, Health Services
Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu, April 4
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, in its recent report, has pointed towards the improper decision of the Director, Health Services (DHS), Jammu, to place Rs 7.02 crore at the disposal of a government agency for the purchase of six CT scanners, thus blocking the amount for over two years.

The government agency, Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCCL), had no expertise in the purchase of the medical equipment and thus the funds remained blocked and could not be spent for creating necessary health care facilities for the needy people.

In its report for the year ended March 31, 2010, the CAG said the DHS, Jammu, had released Rs 1.17 crore each to the Medical Superintendent, Gandhi Nagar Hospital, Jammu, and the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of the five district hospitals of Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, Udhampur and Poonch in March 2008 for the purchase of six CT scanners and these officers in turn placed the funds at the disposal of the JKPCCL.

“The improper decision of the DHS, Jammu, to place the funds at the disposal of an agency that has no expertise in the purchase of the medical equipment resulted in the blocking of Rs 7.02 crore for over two years, defeating the objective of the government to provide modern medical facilities to the people at government hospitals at an affordable cost,” the report stated.

It said, on this being pointed out by the audit, the JKPCCL admitted in March 2010 that Rs 7.02 crore paid by one Medical Superintendent and five CMOs was lying with it and would be refunded, as it did not have any technical expertise in the purchase of such equipment.

The report added that the matter was referred to the Health Department from time to time, but there had been no response.