Irregularities found in facilities for doctors

The Tamil Nadu authorities has saved ₹9 crore-₹10 crore a month by curbing irregularities in offering meals and lodging to doctors and nurses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian stated on Thursday.

The revision in the quantity spent on meals and lodging and the development in high quality helped the federal government save ₹30 lakh a day, he instructed reporters.

“There have been reports of largescale irregularities in providing food and accommodation to doctors and nurses…in the last one-and-a-half years. We took up a review for over 20 days to ensure that there are no irregularities and that every single rupee is spent properly. Senior officials conducted a series of reviews and came up with a decision,” he stated.

A sum of ₹550 was spent on offering meals to a health care provider or nurse a day. In some districts, transport prices had been added, and ₹600 was spent a day, he stated. “When we conducted an inquiry, we found that many firms, including those which did not run hotels, were involved in supplying food from other hotels and were getting an additional payment from the government.”

Following this, discussions had been held with widespread motels in every district for provide of high quality meals. “From ₹550 to ₹600, we have fixed the rate for food at ₹450 in Chennai, ₹375 in Tiruvallur and ₹350 in a few other districts. The food is being supplied from these hotels from May 21. Compared with the amount spent under the previous government during the first wave, we are saving ₹30 lakh a day towards food. This amount was going to middlemen earlier,” he stated.

Similarly, doctors are supplied with lodging in motels for one week of COVID-19 obligation, adopted by one week of quarantine.

“For this, ₹900 was spent for a person a day. We held talks with the same hotels and made it clear that there were no middlemen and fixed the rate at ₹750. We have reduced the charge by ₹150 per person per day,” he identified.

By saving ₹30 lakh by the revision of the charges, the federal government has saved ₹9 crore-₹10 crore a month, the Minister added. “When the pandemic comes to an end, those involved in these irregularities will be exposed,” he stated.