Proceedings disrupted over Rs297-crore medicine ‘scam’

Dr Deepak Sawant, the state’s public health minister, said that a one-member committee has been constituted to probe the allegations and that those found guilty will be punished

Opposition legislators on Monday raised the issue of an alleged Rs297-crore scam in the procurement of medicines by the state’s public health department. They disrupted proceedings and demanded a detailed discussion on the issue.

Dr Deepak Sawant, the state’s public health minister, said that a one-member committee has been constituted to probe the allegations and that those found guilty will be punished.

He also said that two officials — then assistant director and then assistant director (procurement cell) — of the Nation Urban Health Mission (NUHM) have been suspended with immediate effect.

Demanding a debate, leader of the opposition Dhananjay Munde issued an adjournment notice. He said it was a Rs297-crore scam as all the procurement orders were given in a single day.

“The department even bought medicines with lapsed expiry dates. This is a very serious issue as it directly relates to people’s health,” Munde said. However, chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar rejected Munde’s notice.

For 2014-15, the central government had allotted NUHM Rs 43.19 crore to buy medicines, of which Rs 28 crore was spent on 201 types of medicines, he said.