**Policy Summary: Addressing Equipment Supply for Neuro and Peripheral Interventional Procedures at SCTIMST**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology's response to concerns raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4598 regarding potential shortages of equipment and supplies for neuro and peripheral interventional procedures at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram.
The Ministry, under the Independent Charge of the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, asserts that there is no shortage of equipment impacting patient care at SCTIMST. While SCTIMST had a rate contract tender for these items until October 2025, three key suppliers declined to continue supply beyond July 2025, requesting price escalations.
To mitigate potential disruptions, the Department of Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology (ISIR) at SCTIMST recommended procuring items through AMRIT Pharmacy, a government agency. Consequently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with HLL Life Care Limited (HLL) on June 10, 2025, to procure items through AMRIT Pharmacy, ensuring uninterrupted patient care.
The MoU with HLL ensures pricing at par with national institutions like AIIMS and PGIMER and includes a price fall clause, guaranteeing SCTIMST benefits from the lowest prices offered by HLL for the same items. This prevents cost increases in neuro and interventional radiology procedures.
The government is actively streamlining the supply chain through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, as per government mandates. SCTIMST has the flexibility to procure equipment through rate contracts, AMRIT pharmacies, or the GeM portal to prevent supply disruptions.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Science and Technology: A department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences Technology (SCTIMST): An institute of national importance located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
HLL Life Care Limited (HLL): A Government procurement agency, also known as AMRIT Pharmacy.
AMRIT Pharmacy: A Government procurement agency used by SCTIMST, also known as HLL Life Care Limited.
Government e Marketplace (GeM): A portal used by government organizations for procurement.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS): A National Institution for medical education and research.
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER): A National Institution for medical education and research.
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Location of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences Technology (SCTIMST)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4598
ANSWERED ON 20/08/2025
SHORTAGE OF EQUIPMENTS SUPPLIES
4598. ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has examined the reasons that has led to
the shortage of equipment supplies for neuro and peripheral
interventional procedures impacting patient care and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether the hospital has reinitiated the signing of equipment
contract with vendors to streamline the issue that impacted patient care
and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the short-term solution of equipment purchase through
HLL has led to increase in treatment costs of neuro and interventional
radiology procedures and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to streamline the
supply chain for equipments and consumables in the National Premier
Institute?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पथ्ृ िी विज्ञान मत्रं ालय के राज्य मंत्री (स्ितंत्र प्रभार)
(डॉ. जितेंद्र स हं )
(a) There is no shortage of equipment supplies for neuro and
peripheral interventional procedures, impacting patient care at Sree
Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST),
Thiruvananthapuram.
Page 1 of 2(b) SCTIMST has a rate contract tender to procure items for neuro and
peripheral interventional procedures till October 2025. Three key
suppliers declined supply of equipment beyond July 2025, citing a
requirement for price escalation. In May 2025, the Department of
Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology (IS&IR) at SCTIMST
recommended procuring the items through the Government agency
AMRIT Pharmacy. Thus, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was
signed with HLL Life Care Limited (HLL) on 10/06/2025 to procure the
items through the Government procurement agency, Amrit Pharmacy to
avoid impact on patient care, if any.
(c) The current MoU with HLL has prices at par/same with the National
Institutions like AIIMS, PGIMER etc and includes a price fall clause,
which ensures that SCTIMST benefits from the lowest prices offered by
HLL for the same items elsewhere, thereby preventing cost escalations
in neuro and interventional radiology procedures.
(d) The MoU with HLL will ensure an uninterrupted supply of
equipment and consumables through the Government procurement
agency, Amrit Pharmacy. Continuous efforts are also being made to
streamline the purchase processes through Government e Marketplace
(GeM) as per norms mandated by Government of India. To avoid supply
disruptions in the National Premier Institute, flexibility is provided to
procure the equipment either through rate contracts, AMRIT pharmacies
or the GeM portal.
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