Kerala authorities deny CAG corruption claims, guard PPE purchases during Covid
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and fitness minister Veena George strongly defended the country government's moves for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Their responses have been made within the meeting regarding the findings in a Comptroller and Auditor wellknown (CAG) report. The report has criticised the procurement of scientific resources and raised worries approximately the alleged distribution of expired medicines in authorities hospitals.
leader minister Vijayan emphasised the government's dedication to shielding medical examiners and ensuring the supply of life-saving gadget in the course of the pandemic. "at some stage in Covid-19, health workers had been putting their lives at danger. The government has the proper to guard their lives," he stated. He highlighted Kerala's preparedness, citing the availability of PPE kits and oxygen cylinders, which he contrasted with shortages visible in other elements of the u . s .. "Our humans did no longer die due to a loss of oxygen," he added.
Vijayan additionally mentioned the demanding situations of buying PPE kits in the course of the global crisis, explaining the price surges and deliver chain problems. "The marketplace rate for PPE kits before Covid-19 turned into Rs 545, but at some stage in the pandemic, uncooked fabric shortages and transportation troubles drove up costs. None of this become taken into consideration inside the CAG report," he said. The leader minister in addition clarified that the government cancelled orders when suppliers didn't meet commitments and positioned new ones to make sure substances.
health minister Veena George dismissed the CAG's declare that expired drugs were distributed in government hospitals, calling it baseless. "whilst the draft file got here, we gave a clear reply. Even the competition leader knows that in kerala, our medical experts have not given expired medicines," she said.
George elaborated on the tremendous instances of the pandemic, underlining the authorities's efforts to comfortable PPE kits and different necessities despite international shortages. "It turned into a time while human beings wore PPE kits even to bury the dead. No lifeless bodies have been seen floating in rivers right here, and no one died with out oxygen or a ventilator. This changed into not the case even in some developed countries," she remarked. She added that aged patients from advanced countries sought remedy in kerala at some point of the pandemic.
The ministers reiterated that the CAG file isn't final and will be reviewed via the general public money owed Committee. both leaders criticised the competition for making unfounded allegations, urging them to avoid politicising the issue. "we might have political variations, however we need to now not motel to baseless and non-genuine statements," George stated.