As part of Department of Vigilance, GNCTD inquiry into major discrepancies in the procurement of medical items such as sterilised gloves and N95 masks during the Covid pandemic, the details of the minutes of meeting revealed that payment was made to a private company for the non - supply of these items and when the issue was flagged, the officials were clueless.
The meeting was convened by the Department of Vigilance (DoV) to probe the discrepancies in the procurement of medical items such as sterilised gloves and N95 masks during the Covid pandemic and it was viewed that these items could possibly be transacted only on paper without actually receiving the goods but payment has been made to the supplier at the cost public exchequer and hapless patients. The DoV has sought a report from those concerned within three days on June 19.
According to the minutes of the meeting, neither the officers of health department nor the Director General of Health Services could provide an explanation to the reported mis-match in the supply chain between the manufacturer to the distributor and thereafter distributor to the store incharge, DGHS S.K. Jain, Special Secretary, Health Department, GNCTD pointed out that it is a clear case of fraud done by the distributor and a case for lodging complaint against distributor if the mismatch is not properly explained.
At the outset, the officers of Directorate of Health Services were confronted with the mis-match in supply and receipt of sterilized gloves during Covid pandemic. It was pointed out that the DHS has shown the goods as received though the items were not received as per the E-way bill and payment was made. In the meeting, the above documentary evidence was shown to the officers of DHS who could not provide sufficient answer and they sought time to seek necessary clarification from the distributor. "Interestingly, 75000 pairs of sterilized gloves were supplied by the manufacturer on 08/12/2021. But the distributor in Delhi supplied the quantity of 285000 to Store Incharge, S&P, and DGHS (HQ) which seems fictitious. The answers of DHS were confronted by the Vigilance Department official to clarify how the store has received 2,85,000 sterilized gloves when the supplier has supplied 75,000 and how the payment was made for this excess quantity. DHS officials could not explain the mismatch between quantity received from the manufacturer by the distributor and quantity received by store of DHS," reads the minutes of the meeting.
Again it was noticed that 100000 pairs of the sterilized gloves which were sent by the manufacturer on 04.12.2021 were never received in Delhi but in Rewari, Haryana. As per the E-way bill, these items were received at Rewari, Haryana at 09.59 PM (20.12.2021). But Directorate of Health Services had shown that this item was received on 20.12.2021. This is further cross verified with the E-way bill system of Trade & Taxes Department; GNCTD whereas the E-way bill no. 531318857588 states that the said consignment never reached Delhi and its last consignment is Rewari only.
According to DOV, payment was made to a private company without actual supply. DHS official could not explain as to how the distributor had deposited these supplies in the store when the quantity never reached Delhi as per the e- way bill. DHS official sought time to clarify the same from the distributor.
During the meeting, it is further informed to the officers of H&FW Department and DGHS that discrepancies have also been noticed in the supply of N95 Mask. As per date in the E-way bill, the goods supplied in Delhi were on 02.12.2020 whereas as per Challan, the date of receipt of goods was on 26.11.2020. It is clear that this discrepancy needs to be explained by DGHS.
