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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 3:50:26 am

Procurement first, infrastructure later

Procurement at multiples of market price; equipment before infrastructure; no accountability Kolhapur: Maharashtra’s Medical Education and Public Health Departments have been on an aggressive drive to expand public healthcare infrastructure. Daily announcements of new centres, advanced equipment and expanded services have reassured citizens long denied dependable public healthcare. Procurement of medical equipment, medicines and surgical supplies is reportedly being undertaken at rates two to...

Procurement first, infrastructure later

Procurement at multiples of market price; equipment before infrastructure; no accountability Kolhapur: Maharashtra’s Medical Education and Public Health Departments have been on an aggressive drive to expand public healthcare infrastructure. Daily announcements of new centres, advanced equipment and expanded services have reassured citizens long denied dependable public healthcare. Procurement of medical equipment, medicines and surgical supplies is reportedly being undertaken at rates two to ten times higher than prevailing market prices. Basic economics dictates that bulk government procurement ought to secure better rates than private buyers, not worse. During the Covid-19 pandemic, equipment and consumables were procured at five to ten times the market rate, with government audit reports formally flagging these irregularities. Yet accountability has remained elusive. The pattern is illustrated vividly in Kolhapur. The Dean of Rajarshi Shahu Government Medical College announced that a PET scan machine worth Rs 35 crore would soon be installed at Chhatrapati Pramilaraje (CPR) Government Hospital for cancer diagnosis. But a comparable machine is available in the market for around Rs 6.5 crore. A senior cancer surgeon at a major cancer hospital in western Maharashtra, where a similar machine was recently installed, remarked that the gap between what his hospital paid and what the government is reportedly paying was enough to make one ‘feel dizzy’. The label of a ‘turnkey project’ does not adequately explain a price differential of this magnitude. High Costs CPR Hospital recently had a state-of-the-art IVF centre approved at a sanctioned cost of Rs 7.20 crore. Senior fertility specialists across Maharashtra note that even a modern IVF centre with advanced reproductive technology equipment typically costs between Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 3 crore. The state’s outlay is reportedly approaching Rs 15 crore. Equipment arrived in June 2025 and lay idle for months owing to indecision about the site. Similarly, digital X-ray machines approved for CPR Hospital and a government hospital in Nanded; available in the market for roughly Rs 1.5 crore; were reportedly procured at Rs 9.98 crore per unit. Doctors in CPR’s radiology department, apprehensive about being drawn into potential inquiries, reportedly resisted accepting the equipment. One departmental head was transferred amid disagreements over signing off on the proposal. What’s Wrong These cases point to a deeper structural failure: Maharashtra has perfected what might be called the ‘equipment first, infrastructure later’ model. In any public hospital, the administrative sequence ought to be: identify space, create infrastructure, sanction specialist posts, and only then procure equipment. Compounding the procurement paradox is a parallel policy decision. On 20 December 2025, the state government decided to introduce radiology diagnostic services through a Public-Private Partnership model (PPP). Following this, an order issued on 6 February 2026 authorised private operators to provide PET scan, MRI and CT scan services at six government medical college hospitals: in Pune, Kolhapur, Miraj, Sangli, Mumbai and Baramati. CPR already has a 126-slice CT scan machine and a 3 Tesla MRI scanner, with another CT scan proposed. If the PPP arrangement proceeds, the hospital could simultaneously run one PET scan machine, two MRI scanners and three CT scan machines. Medical experts warn this could lead to unnecessary diagnostic testing simply to keep machines occupied, thus exposing patients to excess radiation while government-owned equipment gathers dust. A similar pattern was seen during the pandemic, when the Medical Education Department spent hundreds of crores on RT-PCR machines, only to award swab-testing contracts to a private company. Many of those machines remain unused today.

More Than a Teacher: The Timeless Relevance of a Guru

Guru Purnima is not just a celebration—it's a tribute to the profound role a guru plays in our lives.

Guru Purnima is a sacred and spiritual occasion celebrated across India in honour of gurus—the spiritual guides, mentors, and teachers who illuminate our paths with wisdom and truth. It is observed on the Full Moon Day (Purnima) in the month of Ashada (June-July), which holds immense significance in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. This year it is observed on 10th July.


The word "guru" is derived from Sanskrit—"gu" means darkness, and "ru" means remover. A guru, therefore, is a remover of the darkness of ignorance, leading us towards light and knowledge and from confusion to clarity. It is a belief that on this day, Lord Shiva became the first Guru (Aadi Guru) and imparted the knowledge of yoga to the Saptarishi. It is said that the author of many Vedic texts and the Mahabharata sage, Vyasa, was born on this day. Hence, it is also known as Vyasa Purnima.


In Buddhism, it commemorates the day when Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath after attaining enlightenment. In Jainism, the day is celebrated in remembrance of Lord Mahavira's first disciple, Gautama Swami, receiving initiation.


Transformative presence

A guru does more than teach; they guide, uplift, and transform lives. In a world filled with noise, distractions, and confusion, a guru becomes a light showing the right path when we are lost. Their wisdom, love, and discipline help in shaping our character and purpose, lifting us to higher consciousness.


The presence of the Guru in one's life instills honesty, clarity, courage, humility, compassion, and self-control. Their guidance is not just about external growth but about internal growth too. Their impact goes beyond temples and classrooms, where their presence changes their approach to life.


In ancient times, they held a sacred position, revered next to God. Sadly, in today's modern world, the role of the guru is often underestimated, even taken for granted, especially by children.


The rise of technology and the internet has led young minds to believe that everything is readily available, resulting in a diminishing respect for teachers. They forget that a teacher just does not teach, but they contribute to shaping characters and discipline, transforming lives. Failing to understand and recognise the sacrifices, efforts, and dedication of teachers has led to rising disrespect, disobedience, and a casual attitude towards them, which has become very common. This erosion has to be addressed.

 

Parents’ role

It is the primary responsibility of parents to teach their children this early. A teacher is not just someone who teaches subjects. A teacher imparts the core values of life. It is important to teach them that Google gives answers, but only a teacher gives an understanding.


In a world distracted and lost by shortcuts, the timeless value of a guru must not be faded or lost. A society that forgets to honour a guru walks blindly into the future. Only through conscious parenting and strong cultural grounding can we restore the rightful place of the Guru in young hearts and minds.


Respecting and learning from a guru with humility is considered one of the most sacred relationships in life. Just as a lamp lights up another lamp, a guru ignites the light within us. Having them is like having a lighthouse that guides the ship called Life to sail safely and smoothly through storms.


Not to forget, in the journey of life, our first and forever guru is our mother. Her teachings are beyond books. Her warm presence and love she gives are like a candle of light. This role, which she plays to perfection, is not because she is trained to do so, but because her heart knows no other way. To honour the Guru within our Mother is to recognise the divine guidance that shaped our very being.


Happy Guru Purnima, and may the blessings of the Guru shower on all of us!


(The writer is a tutor based in Thane.)

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