Kerala Government Launches Investigation into Furniture Purchases for Ayurvedic Hospitals
Keralas health minister orders an investigation into alleged irregularities in furniture purchases for Ayurvedic hospitals during the Vijayan government.
Thiruvananthapuram, October 19 (Daily Kiran) : The Kerala government is set to investigate alleged irregularities in the procurement of furniture for state Ayurvedic hospitals during the tenure of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Health Minister K. Muraleedharan announced a comprehensive inquiry on Monday, dismissing a recommendation from the principal secretary of the health department that suggested a financial department review would suffice.
The investigation will primarily focus on P.R. Saji, who previously served as the state program manager for the National Ayush Mission. Reports indicate that furniture worth ₹11.45 lakh was purchased for the government Ayurvedic hospital in Pinarai before the completion of construction.
Similar allegations of rule violations have emerged regarding large-scale furniture purchases at Ayurvedic hospitals in Mattanur, Chalakudy, and Venganur. This inquiry is part of a broader scrutiny of procurement and financial decisions in the state’s health sector, which also includes investigations into medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and other purchases made through government agencies.
In July, Minister Muraleedharan ordered a departmental investigation into significant medical equipment acquisitions made by the health department over the past decade. This decision followed reports revealing that expensive equipment, including mobile mortuaries, lay unused in government hospitals and medical colleges.
The current investigation will cover funds allocated under the Prime Minister‘s Health Security Scheme (PMSSY) and equipment received from the central government during the COVID-19 pandemic. In August, the minister referred allegations of irregularities in the purchase of bleaching powder by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL) to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), citing potential unnecessary expenses of ₹7.32 crore, deeming the departmental inquiry inadequate.
Additionally, calls for vigilance investigations have been made regarding alleged financial irregularities, construction contracts, and purchasing discrepancies within the state’s Ayurvedic medicine company, Oushadhi.
These ongoing investigations indicate the state government’s commitment to thoroughly review public spending and procurement processes within the health sector. The findings will determine if procedural lapses or financial irregularities occurred and who should be held accountable if they did.
