By U Sudhakar ReddyHyderabad, Dec. 10: The Gandhi Hospital Development Society has allegedly purchased surgical items at prices much higher than the prevailing market rates. Some of the items were charged double or triple the prevailing rates, enabling companies to make huge profits.
Hospital sources said that irregularities took place in the purchases of gloves, disposable bed-sheets, sanitary napkins, plastic aprons and other material. The society bought 500 boxes of examination gloves in October at the rate of Rs 300 each from Advance Life Line Health Care Products situated at Padma Colony in Nallakunta.
The total amount came to Rs 1.5 lakh. However, other medical agencies had quoted prices ranging from Rs 130 to Rs 185 per box. In another order on September 4, the society bought more surgical material at higher rates, spending Rs 37,165. Usually the Andhra Pradesh Health, Medical Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation purchases the material and supplies them to the hospitals.
However, during emergencies, the hospitals can buy these materials from development society funds. Gandhi Hospital superintendent, Dr B. Balaraju, who is also the convenor of the society, said he was not aware of any irregularities. "I will enquire into this," he said. APHIMDC managing director, Mr Arvind Reddy, also said that the purchases had not come to his notice.
Meanwhile, a senior official of Gandhi Hospital said that irregularities were also noted in the parking contract given to Karuna Labour Welfare Society. "It was terminated on October for non payment of rents," he said. "But the rent was later collected but we have no idea where it has gone. It will amount to Rs 4.48 lakh." He added that no accounts were kept for the electricity charges collected from medical shops, canteens, telephone booths at the rate of Rs 40,000 per month. Dr Raju refuted the allegations and said there had been no irregularities in cancellation of parking contract. He also added that electricity charges were collected along with rent