Delhi govt clears air on row over oximeters

NEW DELHI: Following allegations by Delhi BJP that AAP government had purchased oximeters - which usually costs around Rs 2,000 per piece - for Rs 66,320 each, the health department said that the government has procured two types of pulse oximeters.
"One type of pulse oximeter is finger-tip and another is tabletop. Most of the pulse oximeters procured are finger-tip ones.Some tabletop ones have also been procured for use on infants in hospitals," Delhi government's health department said in a statement.
"Fingertip pulse oximeters have been procured for Rs 355 to Rs 1,383 (inclusive of all taxes) according to availability. Meanwhile, the tabletop pulse oximeters have been procured at the rate of Rs 66,320 - these have a MRP of Rs 90,000. All the pulse oximeters have been procured through the government e marketplace (an online platform for public procurement in the country)," the department said.
Several BJP members had started slamming the AAP government with documents related to oximeter purchase by Delhi government. Rajiv Babbar and Naveen Kumar of BJP said it was a "scam" and the purchase was made with the knowledge of the chief minister.