'Misappropriation' of capitation funds surfaces

MANSEHRA:

Alleged large-scale embezzlement of Hospital Management Committee (HMC) funds has surfaced at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, Mansehra.

According to credible sources, the capitation fee received from Frontier Medical College Abbottabad, which was meant to be utilised for the improvement of the hospital and patient care, has allegedly been unlawfully distributed for years by a group described as corrupt by sources.

Sources claimed that Frontier Medical College transfers Rs18 million annually to King Abdullah Hospital. Allegedly, Rs6 million of this amount was distributed annually to the medical superintendent, Rs3 million to the deputy edical superintendent and Rs1 million to the head clerk, while records were allegedly kept hidden from community representatives serving on the Hospital Management Committee.

According to sources, committee members have never been provided a formal account of hospital expenditures or the utilisation of capitation fees.

When contacted by the media, HMC members said the hospital administration and head clerk keep financial matters hidden from committee members and therefore they could not provide complete information.