HC directs govt, OSMCL to ‘expedite’ procurement of medical equipment

Cuttack: Orissa high court has directed the state govt and Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd (OSMCL) to “explore the possibility of adopting an expedited process of procurement” of medical equipment “in case of an emergency”.The division bench of Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh, gave the direction while hearing the issue of alleged non-supply of equipment and instruments to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, on Thursday.In its order, the bench noted that both the affidavits filed by the commissioner-cum-secretary of the health and family welfare department and the general manager (equipment), OSMCL, were “conspicuously silent” on how the system handles emergency situations, despite earlier court orders.“Although there was a specific direction by this court to list the procurement process in case of an emergency, both affidavits are conspicuously silent,” the bench observed, directing the managing director of OSMCL to submit a report on the possible expedited process by Nov 27, the next date of hearing.The affidavit filed by Aswathy S, commissioner-cum-secretary of the department, stated that the procurement process begins with a requisition from institutes, routed through DMET to state equipment management committee (SEMC), then to the state-level purchase committee (SLPC), and finally to OSMCL for tendering.

It clarified that “mere sending of institutional requisition does not automatically guarantee procurement”.OSMCL’s affidavit, filed by Dr Amitabh Prusty, detailed a long, multi-step procurement process that can take six to to nine months post-approval. It includes technical vetting, e-tendering, pre-bid meetings, demonstrations, evaluations and price finalisation. Dr Prusty noted that “OSMCL has always endeavoured to make equipment available at the shortest possible time, despite all the hurdles and constraints”.OSMCL cited that during 2020-22, most efforts were focused on Covid-related equipment, pushing non-Covid procurement to the back burner. In 2023-24, a record 504 tenders were floated to clear backlogs and support new medical colleges and speciality hospitals.The corporation also stated about a manpower crunch, stating that staffing had not been revised since its inception in 2015 despite a multi-fold increase in procurement volume.OSMCL claimed that essential items like syringe pumps have been supplied to SCB and that “most of the equipment under process are already available in other departments… and patient care is not being hampered”.The court, however, stressed the urgent need for a fast-track emergency procurement mechanism.