KP Caretaker Government Faces Allegations of Rs 1.9 Billion Corruption in Medicine Procurement

Peshawar: A new report has revealed significant corruption in the procurement of medicines by the Health Department under the caretaker government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). According to the report, a massive discrepancy of Rs 1.9 billion has been identified in the purchase of medicines worth Rs 4.4 billion.
The committee’s findings, which have been submitted to the Chief Minister of KP, highlight several irregularities, including the procurement of unnecessary and non-emergency items amounting to Rs 1.86 billion. These items, for which there was no demand, were purchased despite not being required for immediate healthcare needs.
In a further alarming development, Rs 3.17 billion worth of medicines and medical supplies were distributed to only a few centers, with Rs 1.08 billion worth of items sent to just six medical centers. Additionally, District Health Officers in North Waziristan received large quantities of unnecessary supplies, including gowns, condoms, disposable OT sheets, and gloves, which were not needed.
The report also points out that 81 pharmaceutical companies were initially selected for procurement, but the actual purchases were made from just 14 companies. Most of the medicines were bought without inspection, leading to the distribution of substandard products to the public. Test reports for drug quality were ignored before delivery and payment. In one case, Rs 50 million worth of medicines were bought from a company known for supplying substandard products.
The investigation further revealed excessive transportation costs and the use of unrelated institutions for bill payments, which added unnecessary financial burden to the exchequer. Medicines were bought at 10 to 45 percent higher than their factory price, and drug testing requirements were deliberately omitted, allowing the purchase of substandard products.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Peshawar has already launched an inquiry into these discrepancies. According to the report, the relevant records and inquiry reports will be forwarded to NAB under Section 18(D) of the NAB Ordinance to recover the embezzled funds and initiate criminal proceedings against those involved.
The committee has also recommended changes to the 2015 medicine procurement policy, advising the government to seek approval from the cabinet and ensure its strict implementation.