Bajura, March 1

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has started probing alleged irregularities during the selection of tender called by District Health Office, Bajura, for the supply of medicine.

Earlier on November 22, the DHO had called public tender for the supply of medicine worth 3 million rupees, by giving a month’s deadline. Though a total of 14 persons and firms had purchased the tender forms, only four had got their tender registered with the office.

According to DHO accountant Khambir Budha, the office had, on December 22, approved the tender of DV Medicine Centre of Dhangadi that had proposed to supply medicine at a cost of Rs 2.894 million.

“But as the CIAA has started probing the alleged irregularities, the process has halted for the time being,” informed DHO Acting Chief Ramchandra Yadav.

Meanwhile, delay in the supply of medicine has left patients at the receiving end. As per the office’s notice, it has to purchase 85 types of medicine to meet the demand of the government health facilities across the district.

But though the office had received budget for the procurement of drugs long ago itself, it has failed to get those drugsm given the halted supply process following the anti-graft body’s interference.

Tante Health Post in-charge Dipak Shah rued the lack of medicine at the health facility. “Every day more than 50 patients come for treatment here, but our plight is we’ve just 17 types of drugs and many patients have to return empty-handed due to the paucity of drugs,” he said.

Similar is the plight of health facilities of Kuldevmandau, Gotri health post and other health facilities which are faring very badly amidst the medicine crunch.

As per government policy, DHO and primary health centres provide 72 types of medicine free of cost while health posts must provide 45 types of drugs free of cost.