T’puram: Govt will direct vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) to investigate alleged misuse of public funds in the purchase of medical equipment that has remained unused in govt hospitals, including equipment bought during the Covid pandemic, said health minister K Muraleedharan in the Assembly.In a reply to a submission by MLA Abin Varkey, govt said several medical devices purchased for govt hospitals using public funds were either substandard, not installed or left unused for prolonged periods. Govt viewed the deterioration of equipment worth crores of rupees, particularly after the expiry of warranties, seriously, the minister said.A special investigation team headed by the principal secretary of the health department had been constituted to examine the issue. The team was tasked with examining the quality and necessity of the equipment purchased, failures in commissioning them, reasons for their prolonged non-use and the officials responsible.Govt has received reports concerning institutions under the medical education department and is examining them, the minister said. The investigation found that two oxygen generator plants supplied through Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL) to Alappuzha medical college were unable to produce oxygen in the required quantity and at the required pressure and had not become fully operational.Some ventilators supplied under the PM CARES scheme were also not being used due to concerns over quality, operational reliability and maintenance costs. A total of 128 such ventilators were reported to be lying unused at the medical colleges in Kottayam, Manjeri, Kannur and Kozhikode.Similar instances involving ventilators and other equipment supplied in excess during the pandemic were identified at institutions under the health department, including in Wayanad and Ernakulam.The minister also flagged the purchase of 224 iPhones at a cost of Rs 7.16 crore, along with fundus cameras intended to be operated using these phones. The equipment had been left unused in several hospitals, and some iPhones were reportedly missing.Govt said steps were being taken to assess the need for unused equipment, redistribute it to other hospitals where required, and ensure timely repairs and maintenance. A biomedical equipment maintenance programme and district-level monitoring mechanisms were already in place.Govt maintained that its responsibility did not end with purchasing equipment, but extended to ensuring installation, operation and maintenance so that the devices could be used to provide treatment to the public. It said accountability would be fixed for lapses and further action taken against those responsible. Measures would also be strengthened to prevent the recurrence of such wasteful expenditure.Given the widespread complaints and alleged misuse of substantial public funds, govt would direct VACB to investigate the alleged corruption, the minister stated.
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