Pune: An investigation has been initiated within the municipal health department following revelations that bills have been signed by the assistant health chief instead of the health chief. This discovery has led to a recall of 85 files for re-signing.

For the past year, it has come to light that the assistant health chief has been authorizing bills in place of the health chief, in violation of regulations that mandate all bills above three lakh rupees be signed by the health chief.

Despite this, the accounts department has accepted these bills, which include significant expenses such as purchases of medicines and medical equipment and payments to private hospitals under various schemes.

In response to complaints, Additional Commissioner Prithviraj B.P. has ordered an investigation and reinforced the requirement for health chief signatures on all bills.

Acting Health Chief Dr. Kalpana Balivant, who assumed temporary charge a month and a half ago, has taken immediate action by recalling 85 files previously signed by the assistant health chief. She has now signed these bills herself and resubmitted them to the accounts department.

The situation has sparked significant discussion within municipal circles, highlighting concerns over administrative practices within the health department.

"This action follows the Additional Commissioner's orders to ensure all bills are properly signed. The files from my tenure were recalled, reviewed, signed, and sent back to the accounts department," stated Dr. Balivant.

PMC Chief Accountant Ulka Kalaskar clarified, "It is mandatory for department chiefs to sign bills. While manual bills from the health department bear the health chief's signature, bills from the SAP system do not. As requested, 85 files have been returned, and these bills have not yet been paid."