HYDERABAD: Forty-three complaints were registered in the tender meeting held to discuss purchase of equipment for all government hospitals of Telangana. The tender deed wanted United States of America Food and Drug Administration certificate from the suppliers only then would they be eligible to bid.

With this tag the Indian manufacturers with Bureau of Indian Standards certificate are not eligible for bidding. The tenders which were to be floated on January 21, 2015 were stopped due to this reason. The Indian manufacturers complained about the high-handed attitude of the Telangana Medical Service and Infrastructure Development Corporation in inserting these clauses in the tenders.

The reason these specifications are opposed is because there are only five companies in the market in the state. The quoted prices are more than 100 per cent to 500 per cent for some equipment, when compared to Indian prices.


A supplier who has been supplying equipment over the last 10 years said, “There is a quotation in the tender where the operation theatre light is costing Rs 14 lakh. When according to Indian standard the same light is available for Rs 4 lakh. Why burn Rs 10 lakh of tax-payer’s money on such expenses?” Similarly, the Bureau of Indian Standards specifies the products for Indian use. Another supplier said, “A US FDA product is imported hence it is going to cost more than what is available in the Indian market. The import price has to be also calculated. When a clause of US FDA has been brought in, is there any document to state that there are several complaints against the Indian companies? If so, black list the defaulters and allow the others to bid. There are 124 listed manufacturers and they have been supplying over a long time and patient care has been ensured. Now why are these products being asked for? What is the guarantee that these five companies will ensure that their after-sales service will be prompt and the best like they have stated?”

The manufacturers have protested and health officers state that there are amendments being worked out for which reason the tenders will now be published after February 5.

The tenders are to be finalised in a week once they are published as the government is running out of time. If the amount is not utilised before March 3, it can lapse hence the doctors and also health officers are keen that these ‘issues’ raised are sorted out, explained sources in the department.

Another senior doctor said, “The planning has been faulty from the level of the heads of the department in government hospital. They should have clearly isolated the products which they require with specifications of USFDA. Tagging it in all products has created the trouble. Now fingers are being pointed at everyone.”

Hospitals get to spend Rs 5 lakh:

Government hospitals are now allowed to carry out works below Rs 5 lakh at the hospital level and this has raised quite a few eyebrows on how this money is going to be utilised.
The bar set earlier was only Rs 50,000 and this could be utilised for repair works and creating facilities in the hospital. A senior doctor said, “Now the superintendent can call three quotations and the one which is the lowest can be asked to carry out the works. But which works are still not specified.”

While there is need for funds in the government hospital it has been very important to look into the maintenance of the existing buildings. Cleanliness has been a prime issue and has been pointed out from time to time but is given the last priority as there is no one willing to take it up.

Another doctor said, “The hospital committee always picks the contractor but there is no one willing to understand that he is never paid on time. His payments are reduced by 40 per cent and at that rate they expect 100 per cent cleanliness which he is not willing to give. These issues should be addressed.”