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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is facing serious allegations of bias and unfair practices in its recent injection procurement tender, with 70% of bidders disqualified under contentious circumstances. Industry stakeholders, including the All Food and Drug Licence Holders Foundation (AFDLHF), have raised concerns over the integrity of the process, suggesting that the disqualifications may have been orchestrated to favour select companies.
AFDLHF president Abhay Pandey criticized the Central Purchase Department (CPD) of BMC, stating, "For the first time in the history of BMC medicine procurement, the Central Purchase Department has disqualified 70% of bidders in the injection tender, seemingly to favour certain companies. This raises serious concerns about fairness and transparency in the procurement process."
The key issue in the disqualification process appears to be an unusual technicality regarding documentation. According to Pandey, "What is even more shocking is that the department disqualified the majority of bidders solely on the basis that the list of directors' documents were not signed by all company directors, despite this never being a disqualifying factor in previous tenders." Industry experts argue that such a criterion has never been enforced in past procurement processes, raising suspicions of deliberate exclusion.
Several pharmaceutical suppliers and stakeholders have voiced concerns that the disqualifications might be a calculated move to benefit specific companies, effectively restricting competition and potentially inflating costs for essential medical supplies. The lack of transparency in the process has prompted demands for an official review and corrective action.
Industry bodies and opposition leaders are urging BMC authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the matter. This has also sparked concerns about the impact on public healthcare, as fewer qualified suppliers could lead to higher prices and limited availability of essential medicines.
Experts and business leaders are calling for greater oversight and reform in BMC’s procurement policies to ensure fairness, transparency, and competitive pricing. As the matter escalates, all eyes are now on the BMC’s Central Purchase Department for an official response.
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