Bhubaneswar: The Odisha High Court on Thursday strongly criticized the Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd (OSMCL) and the Health and Family Welfare Department for their failure to outline a concrete mechanism for emergency procurement of medical equipment despite multiple court directions.
Odisha HC Slams Odisha Govt and OSMCL Over Lack of Emergency Procurement Mechanism
A division bench comprising Justices S.K. Sahoo and V. Narasingh, while hearing a PIL on the non-supply of medical equipment, expressed serious concern that both affidavits—one filed by the Health Secretary and the other by OSMCL—did not specify any procedure for emergency purchases. The court stated that such delays could affect patient care and emphasized the need for an expedited medical procurement system to address urgent requirements in hospitals.
Court Directs OSMCL to Submit Detailed Emergency Procurement Plan
Taking note of the lapse, the bench directed the Managing Director of OSMCL to explore the possibility of adopting a fast-track procurement process for emergencies and submit a detailed report by November 27. The court noted that previous orders had already instructed the state to devise such a mechanism, yet no action had been taken.
Affidavits Highlight Lengthy Standard Procurement Procedure
According to Health Secretary Aswathy S, the standard procurement procedure currently involves several layers of approval—from institutional requisition and review by the State Equipment Management Committee (SEMC) to final evaluation by the State-Level Purchase Committee (SLPC) before OSMCL makes the purchase. Dr. Amitabh Prusty, General Manager (Equipment) at OSMCL, stated that the normal procurement cycle takes six to nine months due to technical evaluations, tendering, and demonstrations.
Court Unimpressed by Justifications and Reiterates Accountability
Despite these explanations, the High Court was not convinced. It observed that the affidavits failed to address the core issue of emergency procurement, which could save lives in urgent situations. The court referred to the September 9 meeting between OSMCL and SCB Medical College and Hospital officials, where OSMCL had claimed that “most of the required equipment are already available in other departments, and patient care is not being hampered.” The bench, however, termed this response inadequate and directed strict compliance before the next hearing.
The matter will be heard again on November 27, with the High Court expecting a clear, time-bound proposal from OSMCL to ensure emergency medical equipment procurement without bureaucratic delay.
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