Committee suggests easing of purchase procedures at MCH

The Hindu Bureau

 

Thiruvananthapuram

The four-member committee instituted by the government to look into the systemic issues raised by the Head of Urology department at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), which had led to the postponement of surgical procedures in the department, has suggested that the procedures for institutional local purchase of equipment/accessories of machines be simplified so that the procurement is not delayed, it is learnt.

The report was submitted by the committee, led by B. Padmakumar, Principal of Alappuzha Government Medical College, to DME in-charge K.V. Viswanathan on Wednesday evening.

Dr. Viswanathan said the report could not be submitted to Health Minister Veena George on Thursday as she was busy handling the crisis at the Kottayam MCH following a building collapse.

‘Mixed bag’

The report was apparently a “mixed bag,” with the committee pointing out that while some of the issues that led to the face-off involving Urology Head of the Department (HoD) Haris Chirackal could have been prevented, there were many aspects relating to the purchase processes in MCHs which could be improved.

The committee, however, pointed out that by going public with his grievances and his commentary on the bureaucracy, Dr. Chirackal violated provisions of the Kerala Service Rules which prohibit government servants from publicly discussing or criticising government policies.

The committee had taken statements from other HoDs too on the manner of equipment/accessories purchase, process delays they encountered, and how the systemic issues were affecting patient care and service delivery. It had also gone through the purchase files at the Thiruvananthapuram MCH over the past one year.

More wear and tear

Also, because of the huge demand on the diagnostic and interventional procedures offered by the superspecialty departments in the hospital, machines were often run round the clock. This led to increased wear and tear and frequent requirement for the purchase of accessories.

The committee is learnt to have recommended smoothening out purchase process hurdles so that service delivery is never affected. The report is likely to be submitted to the Health Minister on Friday.

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