Delhi shunts doctors as Govt probes medicine procurement scam

Amid an investigation into alleged large-scale irregularities in medicine procurement, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta recommended the transfer of 39 doctors to Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Friday. Along with the transfer of these 39 doctors, the Government has proposed the deployment of around 35 other medical officers to fill the vacancies. In total, approximately 74 transfers have been recommended as part of the exercise.

The Delhi Government’s anti-corruption branch (ACB) has arrested Dr Vinod Kumar Ranga, a senior officer formerly associated with the Directorate General of Health Services, in a corruption case involving the procurement of medicines and other items, an official said on Friday.

The arrest follows an investigation into alleged large-scale irregularities in procurement by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) of medicines, surgical items, consumables and medical equipment, the ACB said.

Dr Ranga is the former head of office of the CPA.  “A complaint from the Directorate of Vigilance alleged that certain public servants and private persons entered into a criminal conspiracy and manipulated procurement procedures, tender conditions and technical specifications in order to provide undue advantage to selected firms and suppliers, causing wrongful loss to Government exchequer and corresponding wrongful gain to private persons,” the statement read. Investigators alleged that the irregularities involved the procurement of portable X-ray machines, bed sheets and linen items, C-Arm radiological equipment, anaesthesia work stations, oral rehydration solution (ORS), surgical consumables and medicines at highly inflated rates.

“Based on the complaint, the ACB registered an FIR on June 2 under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and sections related to criminal conspiracy under the BNS. Officials examined procurement records, official documents and other evidence during the investigation,” it further read.

The probe revealed that several crucial procurement files related to the purchases under scrutiny were allegedly not made available by Dr Ranga, who reportedly kept them in his personal custody.

The ACB said Ranga was questioned during the investigation but failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the missing records and other material aspects of the case.

“His custodial interrogation was found necessary to recover the missing files, unearth the larger conspiracy, identify other beneficiaries and co-conspirators, to establish the money trail and recover incriminating documentary and electronic evidence,” the statement read.

Transfer of 39 doctors who have served in Tihar and Mandoli jails for five years or more has been recommended based on the chief minister’s recommendation, the Delhi CMO said.

The list includes both specialist doctors and General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs).  Available information indicates that several of these doctors have remained posted at the same location since 2014, with their tenure exceeding 11 years, the statement said.

The proposal names the deployment of around 35 doctors to replace them.  In total, approximately 74 transfers have been proposed. Gupta said the Delhi Government is continuously working to make various units of the Health department more capable, responsive and focused on public welfare.

Its objective is to ensure better utilisation of available human resources and strengthen institutional capacity, she said.

Large-scale restructuring of human resources was recently carried out in the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) under the Health and Family Welfare department, the chief minister said.

As part of this exercise, more than 40 medical, paramedical and administrative officers and staff members were transferred, she said.

According to the recommendation, the doctors identified for transfer have completed five years or more in the two jail complexes. The list includes both specialist doctors and General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs). Government records indicate that some of the doctors have remained posted at the same facilities since 2014, resulting in tenures exceeding 11 years.