A BARDHAMAN DOT COM EXCLUSIVE

The report unveiled that, the government money have been widely misused by the hospital. The hospital administration have misused about Rs. 20,30,000 on the account of generator hire only. Three generator sets (25KVA, 12.5KVA & 7.5KVA) have been hired by the hospital since 1979. In spite no permission of the government after March '97, the hospital authority continued with its services. A monthly bill of Rs. 32,100 was honoured by the hospital till March, 1999. After that, without inviting any tender, the hospital hiked the generator hiring charges to Rs. 35,000 per month. In the fiscal year 2002-03, although a new firm M/s Palash Electrical Concern, quoted a mere Rs. 11,550 for the same generator service, the hospital for unknown reasons continued with the costlier option. During the period of 1997-99, the lowest quotation received by the hospital was Rs. 21,700 but still the institute flashed out Rs. 13,300 extra every month for the same service. The hospital also didn't bother to invite any tender during the years 2001 & 2002.

register, order no. and date were not recorded against the items entered in the purchase register. As such it became difficult on the part of audit to verify the respective orders against which the items were procured and recorded in the Register." Hospital sources doubt that, the details were not entered intentionally in the register as an effort to mask the irregularities in the stock. The report also mentioned piling of injections like Atropin Sulphate, Neostigune, Anti-histamic tablets etc. Anti histamic tablets were purchased 3,50,000 units when the usage was 1,69,500 units during the year 99-2000. The hospital have spent Rs. 1,58,80,821 for purchase of medicine in the year 2001-02. One can only imagine the amount of cut money involved with the scam of such a hefty amount.

The hospital administration has also been rebuked by the PAG for purchasing dispersible syringes at rates higher than the Central Medical Store approved rate. The hospital have purchased a total of 86,000 syringes at prices higher than the CMS rates resulting a loss of Rs. 12,040 of the government money.

to the cashier on 07.11.02, the audit rebuked the hospital for the malfunction. The report mentions, `stocks of unused OPD tickets at OPD unit of the hospital had never been physically verified by any responsible officer/competent authority during the entire period covered by audit.' The report also mentioned that, on 01.04.2002 the amount of OPD tickets sold doesn't match with the cash deposited to the cashier.

The hospital also have spent more than the allotment amount under certain heads like Pay & Allowance, Diet & Stipend. The authority have spent Rs. 61,20,809 for the diet where as the actual allotment was of Rs. 55,00,000. This have raised eyebrow of everyone aware with the diet conditions of the BMCH. Similarly the hospital have spent Rs. 13,92,24,589 in lieu of an allotment of Rs. 13,64,61,500 for the Pay & Allowance account head.

Hospital sources points out against the Deputy Super of the hospital, M. Murshed for the irregularities. A senior hospital staff explained, "the super, Dr. Sarit Choudhury is a very good academician but is not a good administrator & his deputy is taking full advantage of it to establish his reign." The super of the hospital cum vice-principal of the medical college, Dr. Choudhury said, "we have answered all the queries pointed out at the report." He also denied to share anything more with the media. The principal of the medical college, Dr. Bijoy Mukherjee informed bardhaman.com, "I have no knowledge of such report." He also queried, "from where do you get such information?" When this correspondent presented him with a copy of the report, he declined to comment on this. The deputy super, Dr. Murshed said, "I have joined this hospital in the year 2003" and confirmed the facts by saying, "these were happening since I was not in the hospital." He also assured to this correspondent, "aare baba eshob kichui noy. Orai abar aamader bole dey ki uttar pathate hobey" (this is nothing, they only suggest us what to send in reply). He also suggested us to restrain from this report & `inform the public on what developments we have made in the hospital'.

The enquiry of bardhaman.com on the irregularities in the hospital have made sensation among the hospital authorities. Unofficial probe have been initiated that how bardhaman.com have received the PAG report which the hospital authorities hoped never to be made public. It is sad that the effort spent by authorities to subside the report if used in a noble cause, could have resulted in much awaited betterment of this district hospital.