Delhi: Anti Corruption Branch raids LNJP Hospital

New Delhi: In a case of alleged supply of substandard drugs and medical equipment at state-run government hospitals, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) conducted raids at LNJP Hospital and seized some equipment.

The raid started on Tuesday afternoon and various suppliers are under scanner for the alleged supply of substandard drugs to the hospital.

Days after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed a CBI probe into the alleged procurement and supply of spurious and non-standard drugs in government hospitals and mohalla clinics in the national capital, the Delhi government said that all the sub-standard items were brought from the Central government's portal GeM (Government e-Marketplace).

The FIR was registered on a complaint from the deputy secretary (vigilance) of the Delhi Health and Family Welfare Department. Medical and surgical equipment supplied by 13 different suppliers were found to have failed the standard quality in lab tests, according to the FIR.

The samples of rolled bandages, absorbent cotton, latex examination gloves and infusion sets were sent for the tests, the FIR stated. 

The Delhi government's response came a day after an Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) team reportedly raided the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital in connection with the case.

"All the sub-standard items were bought from the Central Government portal called GeM. The rules of finance have made it mandatory that Govt Departments should buy products from GeM and only if they are not available on GeM, they can be bought from open market through tenders. It is surprising that Central Govt is allowing such Vendors on its portal who are giving sub standard products," It said.

"It is very important that such products are being supplied not just to Delhi Govt, but also other state Govts and the Central Govt. This should be investigated by the Central Agency like CBI so that it brings out the truth about GeM," the statement added.

Earlier, on Friday, the MHA recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged procurement and supply of spurious and non-standard drugs in hospitals run by the Delhi government and mohalla clinics, sources said.

Delhi government's Directorate of Vigilance had on December 26 written to the Union Home Ministry, requesting it to assign the investigation into the supply of "sub-standard" drugs to state-run hospitals to the CBI.

Earlier, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena wrote to the Home Ministry, recommending a CBI inquiry in the matter.