Patna: AIIMS Patna has taken another step towards strengthening transparency in public procurement, hosting two Independent External Monitors (IEMs) as part of its Integrity Pact mechanism on Saturday.
The visit marked the fourth formal meeting under the Integrity Pact framework, a system designed to ensure fairness, accountability, and ethical conduct in tendering and contracting processes. The monitors, Arun Chandra Verma, a retired IPS officer, and Seshagiri Rao Annangi, former Chairman and Managing Director of Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL), reviewed key procurement procedures and examined how effectively the pact is being implemented.
Welcoming the delegation, the executive director and chief executive officer of AIIMS Patna, Prof (Brig) Dr Raju Agarwal, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to ethical governance and transparent administration. He said the hospital maintained a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and emphasised the importance of robust oversight mechanisms in building public trust.
Senior officials presented a detailed overview of the institute’s major procurements, outlining how tenders were floated, evaluated, and awarded in accordance with established norms. Discussions focused on compliance with procurement rules, transparency in bidding, and the effectiveness of safeguards built into the Integrity Pact between AIIMS Patna and its contractors.
The monitors offered observations and recommendations aimed at strengthening the existing system, improving procedural clarity, and enhancing confidence in the fairness of the tendering process. Officials described their feedback as valuable in refining institutional practices and reinforcing accountability.
The meeting was attended by several senior administrators, including the deputy director (administration), the medical superintendent in charge, the dean (academic) in charge, the financial adviser and chief accounts officer, and senior officers from administration and public relations. Faculty and officers responsible for stores and procurement were also present.
AIIMS Patna said the Integrity Pact had become a crucial instrument in preventing malpractice, promoting ethical behaviour, and ensuring transparency in high-value public procurement. By actively engaging external oversight, the institute aims to demonstrate that its processes are open to scrutiny and aligned with principles of good governance.
Officials noted that while AIIMS Bhopal was the first institute in the AIIMS network to introduce Independent External Monitor visits, AIIMS Patna is only the second in the country to implement and actively operationalise the mechanism. The move reflects what administrators described as a proactive approach towards clean and transparent administration.
The institute reiterated that it remained committed to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability, viewing independent oversight as essential to maintaining public confidence in its administrative and financial systems.
