Refuting a Report Published in *Dainik Bhaskar*, Civil Surgeon Provides Clarification; States: Purchases Totaled ₹16 Crore, Not ₹28 Crore; Tender Process—Not Quotations—Was Followed
Ranchi: Addressing the confusion that arose following a report published in *Dainik Bhaskar* regarding the procurement of medical supplies at Sadar Hospital, Ranchi, the Civil Surgeon Prabhat Kumar held a press conference to clarify the situation and highlight several key points. He stated that the appearance of the word "quotation" instead of "tender" in the newspaper report was likely a human typing error. A mistake can happen to anyone, he noted, and therefore, he is not leveling any accusations against anyone.
The Civil Surgeon clarified that the hospital had procured supplies worth approximately ₹16 crore—not ₹28 crore. He emphasized that purchases involving such a substantial amount cannot be executed through a quotation process. According to regulations, the quotation process applies only to works or purchases valued up to ₹1.50 lakh; for amounts exceeding this limit, a formal tender process must be adopted.
He stated, "To procure goods worth such a large sum, a tender process is conducted, not a quotation process. The publication of the news report in the media had created confusion among the public; therefore, this press conference was organized to clarify the facts."
During the event, a correspondent from *M Bharat 24 News LIVE* asked the Civil Surgeon whether the concerned newspaper had attempted to seek his side of the story before publishing the report. In response, the Civil Surgeon explained that he had received a phone call around 8:00 PM while he was at home. Since the matter involved financial issues—and given the size and scope of the hospital—he had requested time from the concerned party to formulate a response, explaining that he needed to review the relevant files to provide accurate information based on facts.
He remarked, "I had stated that I required time to respond to financial matters to ensure that no errors were made. Had they waited until the following day, I would have been able to present my side of the story in detail."
When asked what version of his statement the newspaper had ultimately published, he replied that the newspaper had simply reported that he was "out of hospital." The Civil Surgeon ultimately reiterated that he is not leveling any allegations against any newspaper. He stated, “Anyone can make a mistake, but it is essential that accurate factual information reaches the public.”
