AAP Alleges Rs 650 Crore Medicine Procurement Scam in New Delhi
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday leveled serious allegations of corruption against the Delhi administration, claiming a Rs 650 crore scam in the procurement of medicines and medical equipment by the health department in New Delhi. AAP Delhi president and former health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj led the charge, accusing the government of deliberately changing procurement rules to facilitate financial irregularities.
During his address, Bharadwaj claimed that the government shifted procurement powers away from individual hospitals. Instead, these powers were centralized under the Central Procurement Agency. According to the AAP leader, this centralization enabled the inflated purchases of various medical equipment and health supplies.
To illustrate the scale of the alleged irregularities, Bharadwaj provided specific pricing details for several items procured by the agency. He claimed that portable X-ray machines, which normally have a market price of around Rs 10 lakh, were purchased at an inflated price of Rs 33 lakh each.
The AAP leader also highlighted the procurement of C-arm radiological equipment. He alleged that this equipment, which has an approximate market value of Rs 25 lakh, was bought by the administration for Rs 1.10 crore. In another instance of alleged overpricing, Bharadwaj claimed that oral rehydration salts (ORS) packets, which typically cost around Rs 2.5, were procured at Rs 15 per packet.
In addition to the financial allegations, the AAP Delhi president raised concerns over administrative appointments within the health sector. Specifically, Bharadwaj questioned the appointment of Dr Vatsala Aggarwal to the position of director general of health services. He alleged that the government bypassed several senior doctors to secure her appointment.
Furthermore, Bharadwaj pointed out that Dr Aggarwal was appointed to the top post despite having a pending vigilance inquiry against her. The opposition's allegations have raised concerns over potential corruption and irregularities in public healthcare procurement, creating political controversy and prompting demands for further investigation into the department's purchasing practices.
