KARACHI: The residents of Sindh province are compelled to take substandard life-saving drugs as over Rs1.6 billion embezzlement has been detected in the purchase of medicines by the government-run hospitals of the province without going through proper laboratory drug test and inspection reports, Pakistan Today has learned.
This massive embezzlement of funds has been detected in the records of Sindh government hospitals which purchased medicines worth billions of rupees without proper purchase procedure and without knowing whether the medicines are consumable or not, the sources said.
Similar revelations were made in the audit report by the Auditor General of Pakistan in its report for the year 2014-15 and 2015-16. Ironically, the managers of the various vertical programmes also indulged in the same practices and purchased expired medicines for the people of the province this year.
According to the audit report available with Pakistan Today, Jinnah Postgraduate and Medical Center (JPMC) Executive Director embezzled at least Rs415 million while the Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program Hyderabad’s Program Manager embezzled Rs421 million on account of purchase of substandard and or expired medicines.
Moreover, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Executive Director purchased medicines worth Rs250 million without laboratory drug test or mandatory inspection reports.
A few of the statistics revealed by the report shows that Karachi National Institute of Child Health embezzled Rs77 million; Thatta District Health Officer Rs73 million; Karachi District Health Officer (DHO) Rs65 million; Hyderabad Sir Cowasji Institute of Psychiatry Medical Superintendent (MS) Rs34 million; Dadu Civil Hospital Civil Surgeon (CS) Rs32 million; Larkana DHO Rs29 million; Mirpurkhas CS Rs25 million; Hyderabad Health Services Director General Rs20 million; Karachi Services Hospital MS Rs20 million.
A complete breakdown of total amount of corruption charges on each department and/or individual is available with Pakistan Today.