Chennai: The state agency that keeps vaccines and insulin cold for govt hospitals will now also care for temperature-controlled liquor warehouses owned by Tasmac.The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), which procures and distributes medicines and medical equipment for govt hospitals, has floated tenders for special repairs at Tasmac warehouses in Ambattur, Thirumazhisai and Thanjavur. Tasmac had been paying external contractors to maintain its warehouses. Under an arrangement approved by both boards, it will instead fund five engineers for TNMSC’s civil wing, which already has four. The nine-member wing will maintain the warehouses of both corporations, said health secretary Darez Ahamed.“Our engineers have experience maintaining temperature-controlled warehouses that store vaccines and medicines such as insulin. Using in-house capacity will save public money. Medicine procurement would not be affected because it is handled by a different team,” he said.The tenders, floated on Nov 12, cover plinth protection, roof gutter and leaks, and new and serviced rolling shutters. Quotations close at 3pm on Nov 20, and bids will be opened at 3.30pm the same day.Doctors’ association and experts say this is not the first non-medical task given to TNMSC. “It earlier bought 1g gold coins for the Thaimaman Thangamothiram Thittam,” said Service Doctors and Post Graduate Association general secretary Dr A Ramalingam. The trend risks distracting the corporation from its purpose of ensuring uniform drug purchases for govt hospitals, he said. “The purpose of the corporation is being systematically destroyed. They should use the workforce and money to improve technology and facilities within the health department,” he said.Some experts had sharper criticism. Former member of the state planning commission and retired vascular surgeon Dr J Amalorpavanathan, asked, “Why repair warehouses? They can enter construction too and help the TNHB.”Prohibition minister Vignesh did not respond to calls or messages from TOI.
