An air of ambiguity is prevailing over the appointment of executive director (ED) of Telangana State Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMSIDC), as the Telangana government is planning to change the old usual practice of roping in senior revenue officials.

According to sources at TSMSIDC, the earlier practice of roping in senior revenue officials to hold ED post has led to corruption in the TSMSIDC. As the revenue officials have least knowledge about medicines and medical devices, earlier officials have procured large quantities of near expiry drugs and indulged in corrupt practices for securing commissions from the pharma companies.

To prevent such corruption in TSMSIDC, the Telangana state government has put on hold the filling of ED post and wants to change the old practice and is looking to rope in some senior officials from the health department with sound medical background and knowledge about medicines and medical devices.

“ED post is very critical at TSMSIDC. ED is responsible for all day to day operational activities of the corporation and plays a vital role in assessing the requirements of medicines by the government hospitals and procuring the same from the pharma companies. Earlier revenue officials had no knowledge and they use to procure medicines without any proper assessment. Because of this, huge quantities of medicines have gone waste and unused by the hospitals,” said a source.

At present the chief engineer of TSMSIDC is temporarily overlooking the procurement activities in the absence of ED. As the ED post is vacant since long time now and as tenders of Rs.120 crore for procuring medicines and medical devices to be taken up shortly, the higher authorities have again pushed in the files of some senior revenue officials to state health ministry for appointment of ED. But, the health ministry has halted the appointment process and is said to be looking at appointing someone from heath department rather than follow the old practice.