LAHORE: The Punjab health department has removed a senior medical officer (SMO) of Allied Hospital Faisalabad from service, besides ordering recovery of Rs135 million from him and forfeiture of his five-year service, for causing a loss to the national exchequer.

The action was initiated against Dr Abid Hussain in the light of the findings of an inquiry report which held him guilty of committing gross violation of procurement and financial rules, as well as for unauthorised execution of maintenance and repair work.

The major penalties were handed down by Punjab Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Department Special Secretary (Operations) Masnoor Ahmad in the light of the findings of the inquiry officer Prof Dr Tausif Fatima, the professor of surgery at the Services Hospital, Lahore.

The inquiry report says the officer committed the gross violations of rules when he was posted as additional medical superintendent (AMS) at the Government Children Hospital, Faisalabad, also recommending theforfeiture of his five-year service.

The inquiry officer also issued directions to initiate an inquiry against the then medical superintendent of the Children’s Hospital, Faisalabad.

According to the report, the construction of the Children’s Hospital, Faisalabad, was proposed in two phases. In the first phase, the OPD and Emergency blocks were constructed and made functional.

It says the hospital administration constructed partitions in the building without obtaining approval of the competent authority like Planning & Development, Architect, Building and Health departments. Even no PC-1 for amendment in the newly-constructed block was available, according to the report.

It sates the ex-AMS neither prepared any detailed estimate, nor sought administrative and technical sanctions from the competent authority.

“He (ex-AMS) executed the maintenance and repair work and procurement related items against a huge amount of Rs55,770,550 during 2019-20 and 2020-21 without provision/allocation of funds in blatant violation of the rules”, reads the report. He also executed the repair/construction work amounting to Rs29,044,160 in violation of the laid down rules.

The major portion of the work amounting to Rs24, 691,420 relates to the construction of different partitions in the hospital building which have been constructed with fragile material i.e. gypsum and lamination seats etc. which are risky in terms of durability and safety.

“He procured hi-tech electric wire of 500 meter length (25mm, 4 core) against a huge amount of Rs12,751,000 and as per demand the purpose of the same was not known”, reads the report, adding that the agencies like Fesco, the public works department etc were not contacted for technical assessment before procurement of the hi-tech wire.

It states that the officer also procured another hi-tech electric wire of 675 RF length (300 m 4 core) for Rs10, 685, 000 for electric connection of an angiography machine.

The probing officer says the machine was received by the hospital on June 27, 2020, while the wire for connection was demanded on Aug 28, 2019 and the same was received by the hospital on March 9, 2020. “So it is evident that the wire 675RF length (300 m 4 core) for the machine was procured without technical assessment and requirement”, reads the report.

It says no report on the assessment of the strength and length of the wire was available in the record. The packing list of the machine was also not available in the hospital record to check whether the wire was supplied by the company with the machine or not.

It says the officer created liabilities amounting to Rs150,630,000 in various other heads of accounts by placing procurement orders without observing availability of the funds under relevant heads as per data provided by the current administration of the institute.

“Mst Razia Saadi, the owner of the M/S Climax Traders is the wife of the officer Dr Abid Hussain, the then AMS purchase during the period under observation and later on he was also entrusted the additional charge of the medical superintendent of the hospital, the fact was also admitted by Dr Abid Hussain,”reads the report.

It says the maintenance, repair and construction work executed and procurement made so during the FY2019-20 and 2020-21 was unlawful/unauthorized/irregular and without immediate requirements, while the rates charged were exorbitant.

“The inquiry officer while furnishing her report indicated that above charges leveled against the officer have been proved,” reads the report.

Following the findings of the report, the ex-AMS Dr Abid failed to defend himself despite being given an opportunity.

The health department issued a notification to initiate action against the guilty officer under the Punjab Employees’ Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2024