The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday carried out surprise checks at Indian Naval Hospital (INHS) Ashvini in Mumbai’s Colaba and Armed Forces Medical Stores Depot in Kandivali following information about alleged malpractices in procuring medicines and medical equipment. The checks were undertaken in co-ordination with Naval and Army authorities.
CBI sources said they had received inputs that medicines were allegedly procured from local dealers at exorbitant rates instead of purchasing these stocks at approved rates from contract dealers or original manufacturers in accordance with “Stock Policy.”
The information also indicates that certain drugs were allegedly procured in excess of the actual requirement and in violation of the ‘Stock Policy’, thereby leading to expiry of a large quantity of medicines, officials said.
Moreover, expired medicines were returned without realising the cost of the same from the local dealers, they said. The CBI checks were focusing on the period 2008 and till this year.
The Navy said the Mumbai-based Western Command was co-operating with the checks after the CBI informed it on Thursday evening. Ashvini is the one of the biggest medical facilities in western India catering to personnel of all warships, ex-servicemen and those registered under Employees Contributory Health Scheme.