Bhubaneswar: A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has uncovered significant irregularities in the management of COVID-19 funds, raising concerns over unverified payments to private hospitals.
The report scrutinizes the billing practices of eight private COVID Care Hospitals in Khordha and Cuttack districts, including SUM Hospital, Hi-Tech, Blue Wheel, KIDS Hospital, Sanjeevani, Aditya Ashwini, Sparsh Hospital, and Sun Hospital. According to the CAG, a total of ₹144.88 crore was approved without adequate verification.
Officials allegedly bypassed guidelines by approving bills without confirming critical details such as the number of patients admitted, the type of beds used, and individual patient claims. This leniency, the CAG suggests, points to systemic flaws in oversight during the pandemic.
The report also implicates the previous BJD government for sanctioning payments to these hospitals without proper scrutiny. The BJP has criticized the earlier administration, vowing that the Mohan Majhi-led government will hold those responsible accountable and implement stricter measures to prevent such lapses in the future.
Meanwhile, the BJD has dismissed the allegations, asserting that their administration was proactive in managing the pandemic and claiming the report lacks factual accuracy.
The revelations have sparked political debate, with calls for an in-depth investigation into the motives behind the unverified approvals.
