Health dept launches inquiry against Jinnah Hospital’s MS

A four-member committee, under the supervision of Dr Aftab Mohsin, would probe the allegations

LAHORE: Punjab Health Department has initiated an inquiry against Jinnah Hospital’s Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Asim Hameed after a mega corruption case was unearthed.

Sources revealed that corruption, worth millions of rupees, was committed by the Jinnah Hospital MS and administration officials in the purchase of substandard medicines by allotting the tender to a specific company. These substandard medicines were purchased from the budget of the Patients’ Welfare Society of Jinnah Hospital.

The Punjab Health Department launched an inquiry into the scandal and formed a four-member probing committee under the supervision of the Jinnah Hospital Medicine Department Head Dr Aftab Mohsin.

Sources in the Punjab Health Department said a huge stock of medicines disappeared from the hospital’s pharmacy after fake papers projected that the medicines were given to poor patients.

Patient Welfare Society of Jinnah Hospital receives huge funds from donors and philanthropists around the world who donate millions of rupees for the treatment of those who cannot afford it. The inquiry will also probe the matter of low-quality medicines being purchased after a tender was awarded to a specific company.

The committee will present its report in five days and the department is likely to suspend the MS. The case will subsequently be referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A senior official of the health department revealed that even the money spent on guests and delegates, who visited the administration of the hospital, was paid from the welfare society’s fund. Jinnah Hospital MS Dr Asim Hameed said the allegations were baseless.