Avinash Azad
The probe into the excessive purchase of surgical staplers by the Department of Surgery, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, ordered by then Principal and Dean Dr. Shashi Sudhan, has seemingly vanished into thin air, leaving serious questions about the accountability of the inquiry committee and the commitment to transparency within the institution.
Excess purchase of staplers by Department of Surgery, Principal GMC order inquiry
In May 2023, an inquiry committee comprising five senior officials, led by the Administrator of Associated Hospitals Jammu (AHJ), was constituted to investigate how an inordinate number of staplers were procured through the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL). The purchase, deemed unnecessary and excessive, allegedly imposed a significant financial burden on the state exchequer.
The committee was tasked with determining the rationale behind the excessive procurement, fixing responsibility, and ensuring proper accountability in future purchases. The inquiry was to delve into the expected annual usage of the staplers, the risks of expiration, and the possibility of reallocating surplus stock to other departments. Despite being directed to submit its findings within two weeks, the committee’s report remains conspicuously absent months later.
Inquiry Stalled: A Pattern of Neglect
This is not the first instance of alleged financial impropriety involving GMC Jammu. Sources reveal that a separate ‘scam’ regarding the bulk purchase of suture material further highlights the institution’s questionable procurement practices.
A significant stock of suture material, purchased through JKMSCL in April 2022, was left unused and piled up at the JKMSCL’s Nagrota warehouse. To make matters worse, a portion of this stock carried short expiration dates, with some items expiring between September and November 2023.
The whistleblower who exposed this mismanagement expressed frustration over the complacency of GMC authorities. “Despite repeated reminders from JKMSCL, the GMC’s indifference persisted until the intervention of Secretary Health and Medical Education Bhupinder Kumar forced action,” the whistleblower stated. Following a high-level meeting convened by Kumar, the unsold stock was finally shifted to GMC Jammu, averting further waste.
Unanswered Questions
The lack of progress in the stapler inquiry underscores systemic issues in addressing financial irregularities within GMC Jammu. The inquiry committee’s failure to deliver its findings in the stipulated time frame, coupled with the administration’s silence on the matter, raises troubling questions:
Why has the inquiry committee not submitted its report after more than 19 months?
Who is accountable for the unnecessary financial burden caused by these excess purchases?
What steps are being taken to prevent such procurement malpractice in the future?
A Failure of Oversight
While the intervention by Secretary Bhupinder Kumar in the suture material debacle is commendable, the systemic issues within GMC Jammu’s procurement processes remain unaddressed. The whistleblower, whose efforts brought the matter to light, voiced both relief and frustration. “I am glad my initiative bore results, but this should not have required intervention from the highest levels. It’s a reflection of poor governance at GMC Jammu,” he remarked.
The alleged ‘commission’ motives behind these purchases further taint the integrity of the institution. With public funds at stake, the delay in concluding the stapler inquiry appears as a deliberate attempt to bury the issue and shield those responsible.
RTI Act Gasps for Life at GMC
An RTI filed by an activist regarding this matter went unanswered, with authorities seemingly making deliberate attempts to suppress the issue. Since the RTI Act in Jammu and Kashmir has lost its efficacy due to the lack of proactive oversight, crucial information now rests at the discretion of unresponsive Public Information Officers (PIOs) and First Appellate Authorities (FAAs).
