Now, an ambulance scam by Dhananjay Mahapatra

In a new twist to the alleged Rs 5,600-crore scam in giving away contracts for ambulance and emergency healthcare services to a private party in 10 states, the Centre told the SC that though the funds for the services were from National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the onus rested with the state governments to ensure transparent bidding process.

A PIL had alleged that it smelled a gigantic scam in former health minister Anbumani Ramadoss’s ambitious project — to start 108 ambulance services in various cities across India in collaboration with Satyam Computer’s Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI).

The PIL by NGOs Ambulance Access Foundation India (AAFI) and Transparency in Contracts (TIC), through advocate Siddharth Choudhary, had alleged that EMRI had entered into memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with 10 states to provide ambulance and emergency response services without there being any transparent tender process.

The Union health ministry, in its affidavit before the SC, said providing ambulance services and other emergency response mechanisms was an integral part of achieving accessible and affordable primary healthcare, which was the aim of NRHM.

‘‘In some cases, state governments have preferred to operate ambulance services run by their own facilities. In other cases, the state governments have chosen to provide emergency response services through the public-private participation (PPP) route. In both these cases, funds have been released to state governments through the NRHM,’’ the ministry said.

‘‘As long as the funds are utilised for the promotion of identified healthcare goals, the precise manner in which the optimal utilization of these funds can be achieved is left to the state concerned,’’ it said.

Though it repeated several times in its seven-page affidavit that it was for the states to ensure transparent allocation of public funds, the health ministry did not forget to put in a good conduct certificate for EMRI. ‘‘By several counts, EMRI has a creditable track record in various states and the services made available by EMRI have enhanced access to emergency healthcare. Thus, the services provided by EMRI are deserving of financial support from government funds,’’ it said.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices J M Panchal and B S Chauhan posted the matter for detailed hearing in February after EMRI’s counsel Fali S Nariman said the private firm had several MoUs lined up with other states, but it was stuck because of the pendency of the PIL.

The SC had issued notices to the Centre and the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Gujarat, MP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Goa, Assam, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Arguing for the PIL petitioners, senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan had said, ‘‘EMRI is all set to withdraw an estimated amount of about Rs 3,800 crore from public funds and get control and possession of approximately 500 acres of prime government land in state capitals and leading cities valued at Rs 1,800 crore.’’