Health Ministry refuses to share info on amount used to purchase Covid-19 equipment

The Union health ministry has refused to share the amount of money spent on equipment purchase to handle the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, stating that such data does not come under the definition of "information" to be provided under the Right to Information Act.

New Delhi: In a development that could raise eyebrows of a section of people, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has denied sharing information on the money spent in purchasing equipment to fight COVID 19 pandemic.

The development took place after a Mumbai based RTI activist Anil Galgali filed an online RTI application asking for the details on the money spent to purchase medical equipment.

Galgali, on May 1 filed an online application on the central government's portal asking to provide the details to control and prevent Covdi19 by the Indian government.

"Please provide details on the name of the equipment and materials, the total amount spent, date of purchase, and total amount spent on equipment and materials," Galgali wrote in his application.

The RTI request, was, however, disposed of on May 23 after allowing it to a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) in the Health Ministry.

The RTI reply said that the CPIO deals with the matters relating to HLL Lifecare Limited, public sector undertakings under the ministry of health and family welfare.

"The CPIO is not required to furnish information which requires drawing of interference and/or making of assumption, or to interpret information, or to solve the problem raised by the applicant, or to furnish replies to hypothetical questions. The information sought does not come under the definition of information as defined in Section 2(f) of RTI Act, 2005. The CPIO has no specific information to provide," the remarks on RTI application said.

As per RTI Act, if the required information is not held by a CPIO, the officer should transfer it under Section 6(3) to another member who is supposed to have it within five days of receiving the plea.

The RTI Act also has a mandatory provision under Section 4 calling for proactive disclosure of information in connection with larger public interest by the government.

"Government keeps claiming that there is no shortage of funds to fight Covid-19, why can't they (Government) put all records on their portal. I sought to k ow the details of money spent on the purchase of equipments," said Galgali adding "Health Ministry has no info on the money spent on Covid19."

It is pertinent to be mentioned here that the Health Ministry has imported Personnel Protective Equipment (PPEs), N95 masks as well as ventilators from abroad. The ministry has also purchased medical equipments from domestic manufacturers.