Kozhikode: The speed with which the Kerala Health Research and Welfare Society (KHRWS) took steps to replace a high-cost machine at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH), allegedly violating the existing rules and regulations, has triggered a row in the health circles.
KHRWS, an independent body attached to the health department headed by health minister K.K. Shailaja, is on with moves to replace the hormone analyser machine (HAM) worth more than Rs 1 crore, by breaking the existing agreement with a multinational company, at the KMCH here, sources said.
Embarrassing even the staff and authorities of KMCH, a new machine has been delivered to the advanced clinical and research lab at Medical College, Kozhikode, the other day.
According to sources at KMCH, the KHRWS has an agreement with the Beckman Coulter Company which has supplied the existing machine, till 2022.
The move to replace the existing machine even without following the tender procedures has created suspicion in health circles.
According to KHRWS authorities, the company does not charge for the machine, but it should buy reagents for testing from the company as per the agreement.
The new machine of Siemens has already been carted to the KMCH. However, the KHRWS authorities refuted charges of violating procedures.
"The agreement with the previous company has expired, and new tender will be called for installing machine from a new brand", KHRWS MD Ashok Lal said.
Though, before calling the tender, the machine of Siemens has been delivered at the lab, it was pointed out.
Though DC had inquired about the machine at the KHRWS office and ACR Lab at Kozhikode, the employees have no clue.
It will take a minimum of three to five days for installing the machine and complete the wiring. Since the replacement process takes many days, the ACR lab cannot work on these days. However, the unloaded machine has not been unwrapped yet.
