Rs 23.82 crore for nothing! Technical experts to unearth irregularities in medical colleges

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Technical experts will be appointed to examine the wasteful spending of Rs 23.82 crore on equipment in medical colleges across the state. This equipment, procured for the state's medical colleges and the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, failed to serve patients.

The Health Department is also exploring the possibility of repairing the damaged equipment. Efforts will be made to restore as much of it as possible to a functional state and redeploy it across hospitals. In many cases, the original packaging of the equipment has not even been opened.

It is understood that Dr Sharmila Mary Joseph, Principal Secretary of the Health Department, in her report submitted to the minister, recommended further investigation into the case. The extent of the loss could potentially increase as the investigation progresses.

*Kerala Kaumudi* reported on Sunday regarding the findings submitted to Minister K. Muraleedharan by the team led by Dr Sharmila Mary Joseph. The report also calls for an inquiry into irregularities concerning the procurement of equipment over the past ten years.

The PSA oxygen plant at Kollam Medical College, procured for Rs 1.05 crore, ceased functioning after just three months. According to hospital authorities, the company did not respond or take any action despite being informed. Another oxygen plant at the same facility, installed for Rs 94.40 lakh, remained operational for only one year. Meanwhile, ventilator equipment at Kottayam Medical College functioned for only three to six months.

An orthopaedic C-arm mobile unit—which provides real-time X-ray imaging of a patient's body parts during surgery—was purchased for Rs 34,49,000. The company quoted repair charges amounting to 50 per cent of the original purchase price; consequently, the unit was abandoned once it broke down. In the Gastroenterology department, pediatric colonoscopies were purchased at a cost of Rs 29.77 lakh per unit but went defective soon after.