Odisha : Agreement for NAT Machines in Govt colleges quashed by HC

Cuttack: The agreement signed by the government with Rose Medical, for supply of three Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) machines to the three government run medical colleges and hospital and Capital Hospital has been quashed by the Orissa High Court. This has been done after reviewing a petition filed by Hem genomics Pvt Ltd (formerly Novartis Diagnostics), a Bangalore-based company.

The agreement had been signed to ensure safe transfusion of blood, leading to prevention of the spread of HIV and Hepatitis through infectious blood.

The Orissa High Court had in 2011 given a directive to the state government to set up five Nat machines following reports of infected blood being transfused into patients.

Two machines of the five were to be set up in SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and one each in MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur and VIMSAR in Burla—and the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.

Following court directives tenders were floated by the state government in response to which they received bids from Rose medical and Hem genomics Pvt. Ltd. The government chose Rose Medical and assigned the task of setting up of NAT machines to them, after signing an agreement.

However, the state government’s action was challenged by the other co bidder Hem genomics in the Orissa High Court, who complained of gross malpractice in the bidding process. Hem genomics claimed installation of sub standard NAT machines.

The petitioners arguments have resulted in the court cancelling the agreement and directing the state government to re-examine the technical aspect of the bid and come up with a decision by October this year.

It is reported that the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak on the occasion of the World Blood Donors’ Day on June 14 has already inaugurated the equipment.