Target Himanta! CM directs probe into medicine procurement

Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Feb 19: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today directed Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia to probe into the procurement of medicine, purchase of non-essential drugs and delay in constituting the Assam Medical Services Corporation, and submit a report within a month. Gogoi in his directive, asked the Chief Secretary to find out why branded drugs were purchased by the Health & Family Welfare department during the past many years in spite of a policy for procurement of generic drugs. "This matter may be verified and responsibility fixed on individuals concerned for causing loss to public exchequer due to procurement of branded drugs instead of generic drugs," he said. Gogoi also asked the Chief Secretary to probe into the extent of procurement of non-essential drugs since 2006 by the Health & Family Welfare department and the amount involved in purchasing the same. "It is to be examined whether such procurement was necessary and responsibility may be fixed on individuals responsible for any irregularities," he said. The Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to fix responsibility on individuals for the delay in setting up of the Assam Medical Services Corporation despite his clear instructions to the department.

Gogoi further asked the Chief Secretary to instruct the Director of Fincial Inspection to carry out inspection of fincial matters pertaining to tiol Health Mission during the last 10 years and to submit the report urgently.

The CM has sought investigations into the anomalies which had allegedly taken place when Himanta Biswa Sarma, his once blue-eyed boy, was the Health minister.