A report submitted by the Delhi health department to the city government’s Directorate of Vigilance has found no evidence of overpricing in the procurement of medicines, medical equipment and hospital supplies, arguing that official procurement records show several purchases by the government’s Central Procurement Agency (CPA) were made at rates comparable to, or lower than, those paid by other government institutions across the country.
The report cited records from the Centre’s Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal to contend that key items – oral rehydration salts (ORS) sachets, handheld ultra-portable digital X-ray machines, among others – were procured at prices in line with prevailing government procurement rates. It added that price comparisons alone cannot determine the legality or efficiency of a procurement process, noting that issues such as tender specifications, vendor selection, quality standards, delivery schedules, inventory planning and procedural compliance remain under investigation.
The report comes amid parallel investigations by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), the Directorate of Vigilance and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged irregularities in procurement by CPA, which functions under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). ACB had earlier alleged procurement irregularities and arrested former DGHS director and CPA chief Dr Vatsala Agarwal, along with Neeraj Chopra, former deputy controller of accounts for CPA and Dr Vinod Ranga, former head of CPA, in the case. Investigators are examining allegations relating to pricing, tender conditions, vendor selection and inventory management.
