Expedite ‘purchase of medical equipment’: Himachal Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil

Shimla, July 12

Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil yesterday directed officials of the Health Department to expedite the process for procuring medical equipment for health institutions across the state to ensure people get quality healthcare facilities. “To speed up the purchase of machinery and equipment, technical specifications should be similar to those followed in AIIMS and the PGI, Chandigarh. This will ensure quality in purchase and save both time and money during the procurement process,” he said.

The minister chaired a purchase committee meeting here. He said that the government was dedicated to providing timely and top-quality healthcare to people and the state-of-the-art medical equipment to improve services.

In the meeting, approval was given for floating a tender for procuring baby care kits for the mothers of newborns at a cost of Rs 1,500 each. “Around one lakh institutional deliveries are expected in a year and the state government has made a budget provision of Rs 10 crore for the kits,” the minister said.

Later, he chaired the third board meeting of the HP Medical Services Corporation and gave approval to various demands and requirements of the corporation, including for beginning the process of procuring machinery for various institutions, testing vehicles, furniture for hospitals, etc.