Despite probe, action against DHA officers in a limbo

Corruption allegations against three officers endorsed during inquiries

RAWALPINDI:

Despite the endorsement of allegations in three investigations into the corruption and unethical behaviour at the District Health Authority (DHA), the matter has been put on the back burner with no action taken against those responsible for causing losses of millions of rupees to the public exchequer.

Sources said an inquiry committee was formed to investigate allegations of Rs266 million worth of corruption against Dr Faiza Naeem, former CEO of the District Health Authority, after alleged corruption was highlighted in the audit para.

The audit report was delivered to the health department's administrators for further action after the said investigation committee endorsed the claims stated in it, the sources said.

Even though December 5, 2022, was given as a deadline for the completion of the said probe, no action could be taken against the delinquent officer. Similarly, another report was also submitted to the health secretary following an investigation into the allegations of corruption of Rs66.2 million against another female district health officer Hooriya Mohsin, four accountants including Tariq Niazi, Sufi Mehrban Khan, Ashiq Hussain and Khalid Sati and three storekeepers including Umar, Naeem and Waqar in local procurement of medicine, surgical instruments and general items. However, it met the same fate as the previous report.

According to sources, in both cases of corruption and corrupt practices in the local purchase, it was alleged that a total loss of Rs90.28 million was caused to the public exchequer and the same was also endorsed in the investigation.

Medicines, surgical instruments and general store items were procured through local purchase contrary to the prevalent rules and regulations.

Despite the lack of local demand from the health centre, illegal purchases continued to be made in the name of local purchases due to which the public exchequer was severely impacted.

A third inquiry into the corrupt practices in the district health authority was conducted against former EDO Dr Khalid Mahmood Randhawa for illegal use of an official double cabin vehicle.

Earlier, the vehicle was recovered from him by the district administration following which it was decided to recover the rent of Rs8.8 million for the illegal use of the official vehicle but no progress was made in this case either.

In the absence of any progress in these three cases, an officer of the DHA, on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that the former senior officers of DHA involved in corruption and corrupt practices have such influence that despite the allegations against them being proved in the inquiries, no action is being taken.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2023.