Delhi govt bans direct hospital purchases, mandates all procurement through central agency to curb inflated prices
The Delhi government has prohibited hospitals from directly buying medical devices. All purchases must now go through the Central Procurement Agency. This move aims to increase transparency and ensure compliance. The health minister found some hospitals were using direct purchases, leading to inflated prices. Disciplinary action will be taken for any violations. Pankaj Kumar Singh approved the order.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
New Delhi: The Delhi government has barred hospitals in the national capital from buying medical devices, consumables, equipment and machinery directly, asking them to make all purchases exclusively through the government's e-procurement process."Direct purchases or cart-based procurement on the GeM (Government-eMarketplace) portal by hospitals are strictly prohibited," the state health ministry said in an order, warning disciplinary or legal action in case of any deviation.The government's Central Procurement Agency (CPA) will "solely" handle all demand and bidding processes, it said.The move aims to ensure transparency and adherence to procurement norms, the ministry said in the order dated June 4. The state health minister has got to know that certain hospitals and institutions have been procuring medical devices, consumables, equipment and machinery through direct purchases or by using GeM's cart feature, it said.The practice has led to "inflated prices, significant price discrepancies, and raises serious concerns of audit non-compliance," it added."No hospital or institution is authorised to undertake cart purchases or initiate bidding directly," the ministry said.Even in the case of exceptional or emergency situations where immediate procurement via GeM cart is unavoidable, the institution has been asked to submit the demand to the CPA."The CPA will assess the urgency and coordinate procurement on behalf of the hospital," the order said.Any deviation from these directives "may result in disciplinary and or legal action as deemed appropriate by the competent authority," the ministry said.The order is issued with the approval of Delhi health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh and is to be strictly implemented by all concerned officers and institutions, it added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
DTC to launch 100 interstate e-buses
In a move towards sustainable mobility, the city is set to roll out 100 electric inter-state buses under the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), with operations expected to begin soon across 17 key routes, officials said on Friday. The decision was announced on Thursday during the DTC board meeting chaired by transport minister Pankaj Kumar Singh. Several high-demand corridors connecting the capital to neighbouring states and prominent pilgrimage destinations like Haridwar, Ayodhya, Rishikesh, Meerut and Baghpat are some of the initial proposed routes, around 250 to 300 kms from Delhi. The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has also been consulted to check the feasibility of operating buses along these routes, said officials. The initiative aligns with the Delhi government's 'Green Delhi, Clean Delhi' campaign and the broader development blueprint under the 'Viksit Sankalp Yatra', said Singh. 'These electric inter-state buses mark a major step in our sustainable mobility agenda which will improve access to neighbouring areas and pilgrimage hubs and reduce pollution levels in Delhi,' said Singh. The new Type-3 electric buses will be operated by DTC's existing workforce, ensuring a smooth integration into current operations. Senior officials confirmed that religious routes have been prioritized to meet growing demand from commuters travelling to popular pilgrimage sites. Type-3 buses are bigger vehicles used mostly on longer routes with more seating or even sleeping space.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Business Standard
Andhra Pradesh government and Nvidia sign MoU to power AI University
The Government of Andhra Pradesh and Nvidia have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly advance the establishment of a proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) University and foster a robust AI ecosystem through skilling, research, infrastructure development, and startup acceleration. This collaboration is aimed at positioning Andhra Pradesh as a national leader in AI-driven innovation and talent development. As part of this partnership, the two parties will work together to skill 10,000 engineering students across Andhra Pradesh over the next two years. Nvidia will also provide curriculum guidance and technical training resources to support AI education and capacity building in engineering colleges across the state. In addition to workforce development, the MoU also focuses on enhancing research and development capabilities. Nvidia will support the identification and establishment of AI research centres that address pressing technological challenges and develop transformative solutions across sectors. Both parties will encourage joint research initiatives that contribute to the growth of AI knowledge and applications. Speaking on this development, Sh Nara Lokesh, Minister for IT, Government of Andhra Pradesh, said: 'This partnership with Nvidia marks a decisive step in our vision to position Andhra Pradesh as a national leader in artificial intelligence. By equipping 10,000 students with cutting-edge AI skills and supporting our startup ecosystem, we are laying the foundation for a future-ready economy driven by innovation, research, and entrepreneurship.' The collaboration will further extend to the development of advanced computational infrastructure required for the proposed AI University. Nvidia will assist in identifying the necessary tools, software platforms, and hardware capabilities to ensure the university is equipped to deliver world-class education and research outcomes. 'We are proud to collaborate with the Government of Andhra Pradesh in building a strong and inclusive AI ecosystem. This initiative reflects our commitment to democratising access to AI education, accelerating research, and enabling startups to innovate at scale. Together, we aim to create a model that can inspire similar efforts across the country,' said Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Asia South, Nvidia. Another key aspect of the MoU is the sharing of experience and best practices in establishing next-generation AI Factories. Nvidia will provide insights from its global expertise in operationalising AI Factories that serve as hubs for innovation, industry collaboration, and talent incubation aimed at democratisation of AI. The partnership also includes a strong focus on entrepreneurship. The Government of Andhra Pradesh intends to facilitate up to 500 AI-focused startups from the state in applying to the NVIDIA Inception programme during the term of this MoU, subject to the programme's eligibility criteria and availability. This initiative is expected to give a significant boost to the startup ecosystem in the region by providing emerging companies with access to Nvidia's global network, technical resources, and market opportunities. This MoU represents a significant milestone in Andhra Pradesh's ambition to become a hub for advanced AI research, education, and innovation. By combining the technological leadership of Nvidia with the vision of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the initiative aims to build a sustainable and scalable AI ecosystem that delivers long-term economic and social value.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- The Hindu
Govt. inks pact with NVIDIA on establishment of AI University in Andhra Pradesh
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has forged a partnership with NVIDIA to take forward establishment of the proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) University in the State and foster a robust AI ecosystem through skilling, research, infrastructure development, and startup acceleration. As part of the agreement, the two parties will work together to skill 10,000 engineering students across Andhra Pradesh over the next two years. NVIDIA will also provide curriculum guidance and technical training resources to support AI education and capacity-building in engineering colleges. In addition to workforce development, the MoU also focuses on enhancing research and development capabilities. NVIDIA will support the identification and establishment of AI research centres that will address pressing technological challenges and develop transformative solutions across sectors. Both parties will encourage joint research initiatives that contribute to the growth of AI knowledge and applications. IT Minister Nara Lokesh said by equipping 10,000 students with cutting-edge AI skills and supporting the startup ecosystem, the State was laying the foundation for a future-ready economy driven by innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. The collaboration will further extend to the development of cutting-edge computational infrastructure required for the proposed AI University. NVIDIA will assist in identifying the necessary tools, software platforms, and hardware capabilities to ensure the university is equipped to deliver world-class education and research outcomes. Managing Director, Asia South, NVIDIA, Vishal Dhupar, said, 'Together, we aim to create a model that can inspire similar efforts across the country.' Another key aspect of the MoU is sharing of experience and best practices in establishing next-generation AI Factories. NVIDIA will provide insights from its global expertise in operationalising AI Factories that serve as hubs for innovation, industry collaboration, and talent incubation aimed at democratisation of AI. A strong focus on entrepreneurship is also a thrust area of the partnership. The government intends to facilitate up to 500 AI-focused startups from the State in applying to the NVIDIA Inception Programme during the term of the MoU, subject to the programme's eligibility criteria and availability. This initiative is expected to create a significant boost to the startup ecosystem in the region by providing emerging companies with access to NVIDIA's global network, technical resources, and market opportunities.
