PAC Exposes Massive Irregularities in Civil Hospital Quetta – Medicines Worth Rs 22.82 Crore Missing from Central Store

QUETTA – The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Balochistan Assembly has expressed severe concern over alleged irregularities in the procurement of medicines worth millions of rupees at Sandeman Provincial Civil Hospital Quetta, and the reported disappearance of medicines valued at Rs 22 crore 82 lakh 50 thousand from the central store.

The PAC meeting, chaired by Chairman Asghar Ali Tareen, reviewed in detail the audit paras related to the special audit of the hospital for the fiscal year 2022-23. Committee members were informed that between fiscal years 2017-18 and 2021-22, a total of Rs 10 billion 44 crore 30 lakh was allocated or provided to the hospital, of which Rs 9 billion 57 crore 60 lakh was spent. However, the Health Department and hospital administration failed to provide complete expenditure accounts and required records.

PAC members expressed strong displeasure over the Health Department’s failure to submit documents on time and the alleged non-compliance with previous committee directives. Chairman Asghar Ali Tareen remarked that for the past year and a half, the Health Department had only been presenting its “side of the story” without properly adhering to rules and regulations. He noted that this situation gives the impression that the Health Department is not taking the assembly and PAC seriously.

The committee also reviewed an audit para concerning the procurement of medicines worth over Rs 3 crore. According to the special audit, multiple irregularities were uncovered in the procurement process. The supply order was issued to a Peshawar-based firm, but payment was made to a Quetta-based company. Auditors identified discrepancies between supply orders and bills, a lack of entries in stock registers, and unavailability of delivery challans and inspection reports.

The department later informed the Departmental Accounts Committee that the Peshawar firm was the manufacturing agency while the Quetta firm was its authorized distributor. However, during verification, no manufacturer’s consent, stock registers, delivery challans, inspection reports, batch numbers, or other required documents could be provided.

PAC Chairman directed relevant officials to submit all required records, explanations, and supporting documents to the committee within 15 days.

The committee also examined the audit para regarding medicines worth Rs 22 crore 82 lakh 50 thousand reportedly missing from the hospital’s central store during fiscal year 2019-20. Under government rules, the store officer is responsible for the security, record, and accounting of government medicines and other goods to prevent theft, loss, or fraud. The audit revealed that the said medicines were found missing from the central store. Despite the in-charge pharmacist informing the administration, the issue remained unresolved, and delivery challans and inspection committee reports were not available in official records.

The Health Department denied the shortage, but stock balance discrepancies were identified during record verification for which no satisfactory explanation was provided.

Asghar Ali Tareen stated that simply suspending employees is not a solution. He said the Chief Secretary would be informed in writing about the situation, and the report and matter would also be presented before the Balochistan Assembly.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Health Department was directed to submit all records, explanations, and necessary documents related to both audit paras to the PAC within 15 days. Failure to do so could result in recommendations for further legal action and referral to relevant accountability bodies.