BALASORE: Large scale irregularities in the Health and Family Welfare department in purchase of medicines and medical consumables have been detected in the internal audit report.
The audit team has found financial irregularities of over Rs 171.22 crore in the State as on December 31 and suggested a recovery of over Rs 11.51 crore from different district headquarters hospitals (DHH).
In a letter dated January 22 (a copy of which is with ‘Express’) to Director, Health Services (DHS), Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET), Director, Family Welfare and Director, Public Health, the Financial Advisor-cum -Joint Secretary to the Government PC Behera raised concern over the total outstanding recovery amount.
Behera also sent a copy of the letter to Director of AYUSH, chairmen-cum-collectors of Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) of 30 districts, deans and principals of medical colleges, superintendents of government medical colleges and hospitals and honorary Secretary of Red Cross Society besides all CDMOs among others.
Behera has directed departmental proceedings against the defaulting officials to recover the outstanding amount.
The highest recovery has been sought from Cuttack - Rs 3.73 crore, followed by Sambalpur Rs 1.15 crore, Ganjam Rs 64.34 lakh, Mayurbhanj Rs 49.43 lakh and Puri Rs 46.85 lakh.
Sources said while total financial irregularities of Rs 3,30,97,231 have been found in Balasore district, Rs 30,37,668 has been suggested for recovery. In some of the audit reports for 2012-13 and 2013-14, ADMO (medical) Sasanka Sekhar Choudhury has been named and the team has objected to certain purchases.
Choudhury, however, denied the charges saying he had already sent the compliance.
The audit also found that surprise verification of cash balance has not been conducted even once in a year, physical verification of stock and stone has not been conducted by the officer-in-charge and a register of undisbursed pay and allowances has not been maintained in Balsore DHH.
CDMO Bhavani Shankar Pani said he is yet to receive the letter. “We would definitely comply and respond once we receive the recovery order,” he added.