Chandigarh 3rdFebruary; The PGI Medical Technologists Association has highlighted the huge scam and daylight robbery byPrivate Grant Cell of the Institute to which the funds are transferred by PMO, Govt. of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, etc. to provide medicines and drugs for treatment of patients under various Health Schemes.
Firstly, it is not understandable that if the medicines and drugs have to be purchased at high rates from local chemist / druggist / surgical store why Office of Medical Superintendent has created Private Grant Cell under supervision of Dr. Vipan Koushal, Associate Professor, one Principal Private Secretary, acting as Administrative Officer, and 5-6 LDC/UDC and supporting staff who process the entire case of purchase.
Further, the medicines / drugs are supplied by local chemist / druggist / surgical store to PGI Dispensary, which is indented by concerned Staff Nurse / Ward Aide to finally reach for treatment of patient. It also involved 4-5 staff members.
Secondly, the Institute is supposed to buy medicines and drugs in bulk directly from Pharmaceutical Manufacturers / Firms for treatment of patients and make adjustment of bills against these funds but the Medical Superintendent has introduced contract system through tendering with local chemists.
There is a huge difference of rates for buying these medicines and drugs directly from Pharmaceutical Manufacturers / Firms and from a local chemist / druggist / surgical store, which can be verified from the tender rates quoted by Pharmaceutical Firms / Manufacturers for bulk supply to PGI for general supply and for use of its more than 10,000 serving and retired staff.
But, the scam and fraud is clearly evident from the fact that there is a huge difference for same set of medicines / drugs bought under contract by PGI from local chemist / druggist / surgical store, and bought directly by patient from the same local chemist / druggist / surgical store.
Normally, it is believed that if a contract / tender is made for buying drugs regularly for thousands of patients in an year, the rates quoted by local chemist / druggist / surgical store will offer higher discounts. And if an individual patient buys medicines / drugs, the discount may be very nominal / low.
To illustrate the huge scam and daylight robbery, a live example with documents / bills is given below.
One Smt. Indra Kumari w/o Sh. Vipan Joshi, 54 years old female, CR. No. 201501676463, RT No. 26046/15 was diagnosed as a case of Ca. Ovary. She was planned for 6 cycles of chemotherapy with Inj. Lipodox.
On 3.9.2015, the patient has arranged / bought the complete set of medicines / drugs / surgical items on retail basis for 1stcycle of chemotherapy from local chemist / druggist / surgical store for a sum of Rs. 13459. Similarly, a sum of Rs. 13746 was paid for 2nd cycle of chemotherapy. The copies of Retail Invoice No. 232, 202 dated 3.9.2015 and No. 275,009 dated 1.10.2015 are being attached and marked as Annexure A-1 (Colly).
Since, the long treatment and other expenses involved huge money, therefore, the family approached Government of Punjab for assistance under Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Rahat Kosh for cashless aid. On 16.10.2015, a sum of Rs. 80,000 was sanctioned in favour of patient Indra Kumari (Sr. No. 7). A sum of Rs. 33, 15, 000 was transferred through RTGS to PGI for 26 patients including Indra Kumari (Sr. No. 7). A copy of office order dated 16.10.2015 is being attached and marked as Annexure A-2.
Smt. Indra Kumari was registered as File No. F-RD-THR-11713 / 2015 in Private Grant Cell. On 28.10.2015, Dr. Divyesh Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology wrote to Medical Superintendent / Professor Incharge, Private Grant Cell with list of drugs to be administered for each cycle. She was due for 3rd cycle out of total 6 planned for her. A copy of letter dated 28.10.2015 is being attached and marked as Annexure A-3.
Dr. Vipan Koushal, Associate Professor, Incharge Private Grant Cell had purchased medicines and drugs for 3rd, 4th and 5thcycle of chemotherapy on 29.10.2015, 27.11.2015 and 28.12.2015.
On 28/29.1.2016, the patient approached Private Grant Cell for 6th and final cycle of chemotherapy. It was informed by staff of Private Grant Cell that the entire amount of Rs. 80,000 has already been utilized for the treatment of patient Indra Kumari. Sh. Vipan Joshi, husband of patient did not believe it because the expected expenditure on 3 cycles could not be more than Rs. 40,000, therefore, he asked for details. On 29.1.2016, the Private Grant Cell issued a certificate. The copy of Utilization Certificate of patient Indra Kumari issued on 29.1.2016 is being attached and marked as Annexure A-4.
It will be observed that Dr. Vipin Koushal, Associate Professor, Incharge Private Grant Cell has bought medicine / drugs for patient Indra Kumari for 3 cycles of chemotherapy for a sum of Rs. 25,509, 25,463 and Rs. 25,432 on 29.10.2015, 27.11.2015 and 28.12.2015 respectively.
On the contrary, the similar set of medicines / drugs for 1st and 2nd cycle of chemotherapy was purchased from same local chemist / druggist / surgical store for a sum of Rs. 13,459 and Rs. 13,746 on 3.9.2015 and 1.10.2015 respectively.
Sh. Vipin Joshi arranged funds from his relatives at Chandigarh for 6thcycle of chemotherapy. On 30.1.2016, he bought similar set of medicines / drugs from same chemist / druggist / surgical store for a sum of Rs. 13,098, which did not include VAT.
In view of the live facts, it is not difficult to understand that a huge scam and daylight robbery is going on in the purchase of medicines Private Grant Cell directly under the control of Dr. Anil Kumar Gupta, Medical Superintendent.
The Central Vigilance Commission has been requested to ask CBI, Chandigarh to investigate the huge scam and robbery for greed of money by Dr. Anil Kumar Gupta, Medical Superintendent, Dr. Vipan Koushal, Associate Professor, Private Grant Cell and others.
A separate complaint has been sent to Hon’ble Narendra Modi, Prime Minister and Hpn’ble Sh. Parkash Singh Badal ji, CM of Punjab.
The PGI MTA hopes that Chief Vigilance Commissioner will issue necessary orders and directions to probe the huge scam, which has national level ramifications since funds are coming from GOI and various other States under various health schemes.