GMCH dean under scanner, govt orders probe into procurement irregularities

Nagpur: Maharashtra medical education minister Hasan Mushrif on Wednesday announced in the legislative assembly that he has set up an inquiry led by medical education commissioner to investigate allegations of serious irregularities and mismanagement by Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye.Mushrif said he has ordered inquiry into alleged irregularities on Tuesday, June 23, and asked the panel to submit him a report.

The minister, however, also pointed out several achievements of the GMCH, where MRI, nuclear medicine, transplant centre, robotic surgeries have been introduced. “Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis personally keeps a tab on development and facilities at GMCH.

If there were specific complaints, we would have ordered those investigations too,” he said.The minister was responding to queries raised by South Nagpur MLA Mohan Mate during the question hour of the monsoon session.Mate demanded that the dean be sent on forced leave during the inquiry to ensure he doesn’t interfere with the investigation. “Will the govt also investigate whether blood samples were being sent to private labs from GMCH?” he said.Other MLAs from Nagpur too raised a series of issues ranging from alleged procurement anomalies and staff shortages to inadequate patient facilities and delays in diagnostic services at the tertiary care hospital that caters to patients from across Vidarbha as well as neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.Among the most serious allegations raised was that procurement of medical supplies was allegedly being routed through administrative channels instead of technical experts, raising questions about transparency and oversight.

Concerns were also voiced over the functioning of the purchasing department and utilisation of public funds meant for healthcare infrastructure and equipment.Legislators painted a grim picture of the situation on the ground.

Despite handling thousands of patients daily, GMCH continues to grapple with a shortage of essential manpower.

Members pointed out that dozens of sanctioned attendant posts remain vacant, while a limited workforce is left to manage the movement of hundreds of patients requiring wheelchairs and stretchers every day.The House was informed that patients frequently face delays in accessing diagnostic services such as MRI, CT scans, sonography and endoscopy, often postponing critical treatment.

Complaints regarding shortages of medicines and medical consumables were also highlighted, with some patients reportedly forced to buy costly drugs from private pharmacies.Questions were further raised about the upkeep and utilisation of sophisticated medical equipment, with allegations that some machines remain non-functional due to poor maintenance.

Legislators also sought clarification on allegations relating to the purchase of dental simulators that were reportedly procured at significantly higher-than-market rates and remain unused.The debate also brought attention to basic civic issues within the hospital, including overcrowding, inadequate seating and shelter for relatives, poor sanitation, drinking water concerns and deficiencies in biomedical waste management.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nagpur | Silver Rate in Nagpur | Bank Holidays in Nagpur | Public Holidays in Nagpur | Petrol Price in Nagpur | Diesel Price in Nagpur | CNG Price in Nagpur | LPG Price in NagpurStay updated with the latest Nagpur news.

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