Balochistan’s Healthcare Sector Faces Major Irregularities and Shortcomings: Audit Report Reveals

Islamabad:While the 21st century sees the world advancing in various fields, Balochistan, Pakistan’s northwestern province, continues to suffer from a lack of basic facilities. The people of Balochistan are deprived of essential services such as peace and security, education, communication, electricity, gas, water, and healthcare.

The healthcare sector, in particular, is in a deteriorating state, just like many other sectors, with each passing year seeing further decline. A recent report by the Auditor General of Pakistan has revealed significant irregularities at the largest government-run Sandeman Civil Hospital in Balochistan.

According to the report, irregularities worth Rs 1.85 billion were found in the purchase of medicines between 2017 and 2022, and over Rs 2.28 million worth of medicines went missing from the hospital’s main store in the past five years. The report further highlighted the questionable purchase of coronary artery stents worth Rs 31.7 million, local purchases amounting to Rs 40 million, and over Rs 15 million in irregularities related to oxygen plant tenders.

The audit report also revealed that the Civil Hospital in Quetta suffered a loss of Rs 60 million due to unnecessary consumption of oxygen cylinders. Additionally, irregularities amounting to Rs 61.8 million were found in the purchase of uniforms, furniture, and machinery.

It is important to note that the Balochistan Assembly has handed over the special audit report covering the years 2017 to 2022 to the Public Accounts Committee for further investigation.

Muhammad Shoaib, a resident of Quetta, shared his experience with the hospital. He went to the Civil Hospital complaining of chest pain and had to wait for a long time to get a prescription from the doctor. The doctor prescribed basic injections and medicines but informed him that these were not available at the hospital and that he would need to buy them from outside. Shoaib mentioned that he had to purchase medicines from outside each time he visited the hospital, and it was a recurring issue.

Similar complaints have been made by many patients, including Muhammad Shoaib, but there has been no satisfactory response from either the government of Balochistan or the provincial health department regarding these issues.