SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANAJI: It’s finally game GAME OVER for all COVID19 related corruption in the Health department with the Government deciding to do away with the Joint Purchase Committee, which was bypassing the State Finance Department for emergency purchases.
The government, through a circular has now decided that all purchases should be made through the Government of India’s official portal GeM and if not available can be purchased from open market after taking approval from the State Finance Department, headed by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant himself.
“Attention is invited to the Circular read at preamble directing to go for limited tender/open tender/e-tender as the case may be after properly assessing the quantity required by following due process and avoid floating piecemeal limited tender, no repeat orders shall be placed for any item except in extreme emergent situation only, and with the approval of the Competent authority,” the circular issued by (Vikas S. N. Gaunekar) Additional Secretary (Health) says.
It says that considering that during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the various life savings drugs, consumables etc. were either not available on valid tender or were not included in the Tender, being an exigency arrangement, due to paucity of time to float the tender for the procurement, Government vide Order No. 7/50/2020-11/PHD/3646 dated 07/09/2020 constituted Joint Purchase Committee for the purchase of all requirements of drugs, medicines, reagents, consumables, equipment, instruments and any items as and when required to be purchased for COVID-19 pandemic for all Hospitals under Directorate of Health Services and Goa Medical College by calling quotations/short tender as is required.
“Now, as time has subsided by and as per the opinion tendered by Finance (Exp.) Department that procurement should be done by following codal formalities as per Rules 142-162 of General Financial Rules, 2017, Government hereby rescinds the Order No. 7/50/2020-11/PHD/3646 dated 07/09/2020,” the circular says.
The circular adds, “that the COVID-19 has subsided to a larger extent, Dean of Goa Medical College and Director of Health Services are hereby strictly directed to go for limited tender/open tender/e-tender as the case may be on GeM portal only after properly assessing the quantity required by following due process and avoid floating piecemeal limited tender with the accurate position of the funds availability”.
It further says that In case where the items are not available on GeM, prior approval of the Finance Department shall be obtained for floating the tender outside GeM portal.
“The above instructions shall be followed scrupulously and deviation from the same shall be viewed seriously. This issues with the approval of the Hon. Chief Minister,” it says.
What is GeM portal?
GeM e-Marketplace Registration GeM is a short form of one-stop Government e-Market Place hosted by DGS&D where common user goods and services can be procured. GeM is dynamic, self-sustaining and user friendly portal for making procurement by Government officers.
Public procurement forms a very important part of Government activity and reform in Public Procurement is one of the top priorities of the present Government. Government e-Marketplace (GeM – gem.gov.in) is a very bold step of the Government with the aim to transform the way in which procurement of goods and services is done by the Government Ministries and Departments, Public Sector Undertakings and other apex autonomous bodies of the Central Government.