Jagran Correspondent, New Delhi: The investigation into the Rs 650 crore drug and medical equipment procurement scam in the Delhi Health Department is no longer limited to the CPA. The scope of this investigation is expanding with ongoing stock audits of hospitals, and irregularities related to the purchase of medicines and equipment in Delhi government hospitals are gradually coming to light.
Investigating agencies believe that widespread irregularities in the procurement process have also impacted hospitals. In this regard, hospitals are reviewing their procurement records, payments, inventory, and utilisation.
GB Pant Hospital Under Scanner
The latest case concerns GB Pant Hospital, where the ACB has launched an investigation into financial irregularities totaling over Rs 15 crore.
According to the information received from the Health Department, the investigation is not limited to the purchase of medicines only, but it also includes many financial matters including purchase of medicines and equipment, payment without tender, purchase at higher price than the market, store and payment records, irregularities in contracts and canteen contracts which have been operated without renewal for 12 years.
During the investigation, it also came to light that medicines worth Rs 63.30 lakh were purchased in 75 days between December 2025 and March 2026 and bills worth up to Rs 27 lakh were issued on some days.
It is alleged that this purchase was made without tender and at an inflated price, along with other financial irregularities. Previously, irregularities were discovered in a tender worth approximately Rs 17.70 crore at Lok Nayak Hospital.
Allegations are that the tender process was flouted to favour a select few companies. Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital is also under investigation for irregularities in the purchase of medicines and medical equipment, pricing, and filing procedures. The records of several other hospitals are also under scrutiny.
It is being investigated whether medicines and equipment purchased through CPAs were delivered to hospitals in accordance with actual needs. The supply of excess or unusable supplies, purchases at inflated prices, and discrepancies in records are also being investigated at several hospitals.
At the centre of the investigation is the same procurement scam of Rs 650 crore, in which it is alleged that government funds were misused by manipulating the procurement process with the connivance of officials and suppliers.
Health department sources told Jagran that these irregularities coming to light at the hospital level are an indication that the Rs 650 crore medicine and equipment purchase scam was not limited to just one agency, but its links may be spread across the entire procurement system.
This is why the ACB and other investigative agencies are now conducting detailed audits of individual hospital purchase records, payments, and stock. More major revelations are expected in this case in the coming days.
GB Pant Hospital Has Been In Controversy Before As Well
GB Pant Hospital has previously been in the news for serious administrative controversies. Dr Manju Subbarwal, the then head of the biochemistry department, was accused of being involved in film production in Canada for nearly three years without proper permission and receiving a government salary during this time.
After the matter came to light, the Union Health Ministry issued a show-cause notice and initiated departmental action.