The ACE director general (DG) issued the order after the health officers conveyed to him that their version was overlooked in the inquiry report.
The chief of Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has ordered a subordinate to question five grade 20 health officers over their involvement in a multi-million scam, a second time and resubmit a report of the inquiry.
Rawalpindi ACE director will record the officers’ statements a second time for an inquiry into financial irregularities amounting to Rs17 million which have surfaced in Rawalpindi Medical College and allied hospitals.
The ACE director general (DG) issued the order after the health officers conveyed to him that their version was overlooked in the inquiry report.
Earlier, the Rawalpindi Anti-Corruption Establishment forwarded a report on April 26, calling for legal action against officers for irregularities in the purchase of and mismanaging the installation of mammography units at public hospitals.
Once their statements have been recorded a second time, the report will be resubmitted to the Punjab ACE DG. Some officials claim that this is an attempt to tweak the outcome of the inquiry and protect the officers at the behest of influential friends.
The government had allocated Rs6 million for the purchase of mammography units for Benazir Bhutto Hospital, District Headquarters Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi.
The former principal had entered into a contract for the five machines at higher than market price. In 2008, he had also reportedly finalised a contract for medicines, disposables and other items at higher than market price, causing a huge loss to the national exchequer.
After detecting irregularities in the preliminary investigation, the Rawalpindi ACE questioned the five health officers, including a former principal of Rawalpindi Medical College and the former medical superintendent of District Headquarters Hospital, Rawalpindi.
Rawalpindi ACE Director Chaudhry Zulfiqar had earlier told the Express Investigation Cell that the inquiry was conducted on a complaint filed by a resident of Rawalpindi who alleged that the former principal of the Rawalpindi Medical College and Allied Hospitals was allegedly involved in gross malpractice and embezzlement.
The funds lapsed and the equipment could not be purchased, which deprived patients of essential facilities the complainant had stated.
Irregularities and misconduct of this nature should be investigated so that action can be taken against the health officials involved, he had written in the complaint.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2014.
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