Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has recommended immediate suspension of Delhi's health secretary SB Deepak Kumar by the Lieutenant Governor and Central Government on the issue of irregularity in purchase of medicines supplied in Delhi government hospitals to ensure fair inquiry in the case. The minister has also demanded strict action against the then Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Nutan Mundeja in the matter.
The Delhi government's Directorate of Vigilance on Thursday wrote to the home ministry, requesting it to assign the probe into the supply of "sub-standard" drugs to state-run hospitals to the CBI. Saxena last week recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged supply of drugs that "failed quality standard tests" and had the "potential of endangering lives" to hospitals run by the city government.
Addressing a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, Bharadwaj, expressed displeasure over the continuous circulation of news through newspapers and news channels that certain samples of medicines and other products used in Delhi government hospitals have not met the prescribed standards. “ Despite such incidents, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (LG) has not taken any firm action against the officials concerned,” said Bharadwaj, demanding immediate suspension and strict actions by the LG and Central Govt against Delhi's Health Secretary, S.B Deepak Kumar and then DGHS Dr Nutan Mundeja on this issue.
Bharadwaj said that upon assuming ministership in March 2023, he ordered an audit of medicines, equipment, and consumables on 21.03.2023 to the Health Secretary then DGHS. Despite his repeated reminders to the Health Secretary regarding the audit, no action was taken.
In October, a complaint was lodged with the L.G. against the Health Secretary and then DGHS due to their obstructionist approach, but no action was taken. The Health Minister stated that after the disappointment from the LG's office, we knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court to initiate action on this sensitive issue. He informed the LG that these officers are deliberately trying to obstruct the essential policies of the Delhi Government, especially schemes like the ‘Farishtey Scheme’ and other initiatives of the Health Department. These officers have withheld funds for other such schemes.
Bharadwaj stated that he has issued orders several times to the Health Secretary to conduct an audit regarding the procurement of medicines. However, Health Secretary S.B. Deepak Kumar has not conducted any audit, nor has any report been submitted to the Health Minister's office. “If there are irregularities in the procurement of medicines, he wants them to be exposed, and action to be taken against the guilty officials. However, it appears that Health Secretary S.B. Deepak Kumar was unwilling to conduct an audit of medicines procurement, and if there were any irregularities in the procurement, he did not want them to come to light,” he said.
The Delhi Health Minister raised questions about Delhi's LG and the BJP-led Central Government. Bharadwaj said he has repeatedly issued orders to the Health Secretary for an audit. Still, the Health Secretary has not conducted any audit. “ The LG and the BJP-led government should take strict action against these guilty officials. Shouldn't these officials be suspended? Despite continuous reminders, Health Secretary S.B. Deepak Kumar has not conducted an audit, should the LG and the BJP-led government not take strict action against these guilty officials. I want to know if an investigation is conducted now, will it be impartial, given that the officer responsible for the audit is himself implicated in the matter? Will the health secretary not influence the investigation?,” he added.
Taking a dig at LG and Central Government, Bharadwaj said “It is quite clear that the BJP-led Central Government is actively working to protect the officials involved in the wrongdoing.
Health Secretary S.B. Deepak Kumar, responsible for the Health Department, should regularly inspect departmental activities, conduct audits of medicine procurement, and fulfil his duties appropriately. However, the Health Secretary has failed to do so. Before my recommendation, the LG should have suspended them.”
