Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Thursday, 13 August directed the Health Secretary to submit a detailed report by 17 August on the procurement of ORS sachets, bedsheets, and X-ray machines for Delhi government hospitals, after the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that medical supplies were purchased at prices inflated by 3 to 4 times their market value. The minister categorically denied the allegations, saying there is no evidence of inflated purchases.

The Procurement Figures in Dispute

At the centre of the controversy are ORS sachets that the AAP claims were bought at ₹15 each. Singh countered that, to his knowledge, the sachets were procured at ₹8.70 each — below the national average of ₹8.75 per sachet in May, when the purchases were made. 'I have asked the Health Secretary to respond if the ORS sachets have been bought for ₹15 each,' he said. 'If this is true, then the Health Secretary should explain in his report.'

On bedsheets, the minister questioned the opposition's claim that sheets were purchased at inflated rates, directing the Secretary to identify where bedsheets — normally procured by AIIMS at ₹400 each — are available for ₹120 each, and which hospitals are using them.

X-Ray Machine Pricing Under Scrutiny

The AAP has also alleged that portable X-ray machines were bought at prices several times their market value. Singh said he has asked the Secretary to confirm whether the ₹10 lakh machines cited by the opposition are of the 'same specification and company' as the ₹33 lakh machines the department procured. He maintained that a direct price comparison is only valid if the equipment specifications match.

ACB Cases and Covid-Era Equipment

Singh broadened the inquiry's scope, seeking details on 15 medical equipment and medicine supply companies that were charged by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in 2024 for procurement irregularities. He also asked the Secretary to report on medical equipment bought during the Covid-19 pandemic that was allegedly 'dumped without any use' — a matter, he noted, that a court has also sought details on, citing a shortage of staff as the reason for non-utilisation.

AAP's ₹650 Crore Scam Allegation

The AAP has claimed a procurement scam worth ₹650 crore has taken place in the Delhi Health Department. Singh declined to engage with that specific figure, saying the opposition 'is in the habit of levelling false allegations and running away without providing any evidence.' He added that those found guilty of irregularities will face action, but so will those making 'baseless allegations without any facts or evidence.'

What Comes Next

The Health Secretary's report is due by 17 August. The findings could either substantiate the opposition's claims or provide the government a factual basis to rebut them. With the AAP keeping the issue alive in the public domain, the report's contents are likely to shape the next round of political exchanges in the capital.