The Kerala government has come under the scanner over purchasing PPE kits during the first phase of Covid-19, indicating the involvement of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Finance Minister Thomas Issac and former Health Minister K.K. Shailaja. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have demanded a probe into the matter.
The Daily Guardian has received a copy of the RTI reply that reveals that the unit price of a single PPE kit was Rs 446 on 29.03.2020, while on the following day (30.03.2020), the unit price raised to Rs 1,550. As per the report, the justification was, “Detailed proposal to strengthen the infrastructure facilities & for equipping the existing health facilities was submitted to the government forecasting the short term & long term requirements for the Covid Containment. Vide GO.No. (RI) 652/2020/H&FWD dated 24/03/2020 permissive sanction for the procurement was awarded by the Government to the corporation. In the procurement review dated 29th March 2020 at KMSCL headquarters by Principal Secretary (industries) Dr K, Ellangovan, it was decided to relook the total purchase orders placed by the KMSCL. After detailed discussions, it was decided to place additional purchase orders for all commodities, including critical care equipments & lab consumables to meet the worst-case scenario. The minutes of the meeting was submitted to Principal Secretary for further directions. In concurrence with the directions of the Principal Secretary, it was decided to place additional purchase orders for all commodities & lab consumables to meet the worst-case scenario… Due to global scarcity of raw material, heavy disruption of the supply chain & high demand nationally & globally reflected in price hike of the product.”
Speaking of the report, Congress leader and RTI activist Adv C.R. Pranakumar told The Daily Guardian, “Documents proving the role of the Chief Minister, former Health Minister K.K. Shailaja Teacher and Thomas Isaac in the purchase of the PPE kit from San Pharma on 30.03.2020 at a price higher than the market rate (Rs 1550) have been released. The note file has been approved by the Chief Minister, Shailaja Teacher and Thomas Isaac for the purchase of PPE kits at high rates from companies including San Pharma. According to the terms of the Store Purchase Manual, Covid period purchases by the Medical Service Corporation require government approval. Accordingly, the note file has been approved by Minister Shailaja Teacher on 16/4/2020. The file was also signed by the then Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and the Chief Minister. It is clear from the file that the PPE kit bought for Rs 446 on the previous day (29.03.2020) was paid three times the next day (30.03.2020).”
The BJP has asked for an investigation since several complaints of poor quality of PPE kits were available during the first phase. “The investigation and inquiry into the matter should be done. If the kits have been purchased from the other states, then the prices ought to be higher. However, there were complaints that the quality of the materials purchased was poor. So, if the prices were higher and the quality was lower, then proper investigation needs to be initiated,” Dr Biju Pillai, BJP state medical cell convener told this correspondent.
