K K Shailaja defends purchase of PPE kits at inflated prices

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the Lok Ayukta sent her the notice on the alleged irregularities in the purchase of PPE kits and other consumables during the pandemic, former health minister K K Shailaja has defended all the purchases during the period and claimed that "everything has been done as per the directive and permission of the chief minister".
While speaking at a cultural function organized in Kuwait on Saturday, Shailaja said, "The situation was such that the state had to procure the kits and other consumables for the healthcare workers on an urgent basis. There was a shortage of these due to its huge demand in that situation. Hence, the PPE kits worth Rs 500 was purchased for Rs 1,500. This was promptly informed to the chief minister, and it was he who directed that the prices should not be a factor since the state needs it urgently. He had made it clear that there should not be any compromise on quality and hence went ahead with the purchase."
"Our intention was to get the maximum quantity of these products with good quality in the shortest time possible. The state was witnessing a huge demand for these products and hence the government had no other way but to purchase them immediately," she added.
An order was placed for 50,000 kits, but by the time 15,000 were delivered, the prices had fallen. The remaining order was purchased at the market value. All these decisions were not taken thinking that the government will get only bouquets, but we knew that we would receive brickbats too, she said.
"The officials of Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) had warned the government that we would have to stock the PPE kits since Covid cases were increasing in the state. They also said we would run out of the existing stock at any time. This was informed to the chief minister, and he urged us to go ahead with the purchase from anywhere we could get but should not compromise on the quality. The government could only do what the circumstances demanded. Hence, it was the correct decision at that time," she added.
The Lok Aykuta had on Friday sent notices to Shailaja, former principal secretary (health), officials of KMSCL and health department and to the companies which supplied the products based on a complaint filed by Youth Congress leader Veena S Nair. The Lok Ayukta asked Shailaja to give an explanation by December 8.