RAHIM YAR KHAN: An inquiry has revealed malfeasance in the purchase of two key machines for the Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital (SZMCH).

The report submitted to the principal says the lithotripsy and urodynamics machines have been purchased for Rs38.60 million instead of Rs15 million and in violation of the Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules. These machines are helpful in treating kidney and urinary problems.

The SZMCH advertised for the purchase of latest lithotripsy machine to facilitate the patients having kidney stones in the middle of 2013. The then principal, Prof Dr Muhammad Saeed, constituted a purchase committee including himself, Urology department head Prof Dr Mumtaz Ahmed, Prof Dr Safdar Shah, MS Dr Afzal Saqib, Director Finance Noor Tariq, procurement official Athar Akbar and bio-technical engineer Kaleem.

Various companies offered their quotations and just before the bidding process a purchase committee member, Dr Safdar Shah, left the committee due to his reservations on certain matters. Prof Dr Khalid Saeed Pansota (urology department) was included in the committee which eventually purchased a lithotripsy machine from a bidder. The unsuccessful bidder, however, approached the provincial ombudsman alleging that the purchase committee had bought a low-cost machine at higher rates and “it doesn’t meet the standards of specifications mentioned in the advertisement.”

The machine was installed in the urology department in September 2013 but it started creating problems after a short time. In March 2014, Prof Dr Athar Maqbool, who was principal at that time, ordered an inquiry on the orders of the secretary health to probe the deal of lithotripsy and urodynamics under order No. 10794-98/ADMN/SZMC. A committee comprising Ophthalmology department’s Prof Dr Mehmood Saeed, Assistant Professor of medicine Dr Irfan Ahmed and Assistant Professor of surgery Dr Chaudhry Naveed Akhtar launched the investigation.

According to the inquiry report submitted to Dr Maqbool (the principal), the number of cases performed by the lithotripsy machine till April 10, 2015 was 346 and almost all the cases were done by visualisation with fluoroscope as ultrasonography was not functioning properly and this had been communicated to the original supplier by Dr S.M. Shah Gardezi through his letter of Dec 4, 2014 with unfavourable response.

“The system of protection from radiation is highly objectionable and has not been addressed by the supplier as per decision of the contract,” it said. The report said the staff was at risk due to catastrophic exposure of radiations and the head of department was requested to communicate with the Pakistan Nuclear Radiation Authority (PNRA), Multan to get their expert opinion and suggestions on how to cope with radiation issue.

The probe further said “the ultrasound system is not functioning properly hence above 95pc of cases are being done through fluoroscopy for localisation of stones and that too with inadequate protective measures for the staff.” On a complaint by Dr Khalid Saeed Pansota, the pump was replaced.

“The process of procurement of these machines was done in transgression of the existing PPRA rules. This appeared to be a pre-planned programme to install a specific brand,” said the report which also highlighted violation of the PPRA rules and irregularities in pricing.

According to the pre-bid specifications, the supplier of urodynamic machine is from Istanbul which is not mentioned in the approved list of countries that is violation of tender specifications. In line with special terms and conditions (clause 5) supplier had to arrange abroad training of two specialist doctors before installation which has not been done. “Machine is functional for last 10 months with inadequate protective measures for radiation, while this needs to be completed before functioning of the Fluoroscope. Ultrasound machine is not functioning properly and not visualising stone in kidneys,” declared the report.

SZMCH Principal Prof Dr Ghulam Mustafa Arain, while responding to this correspondent’s queries, said since the matter related to the tenure of his predecessor, he would not like to get involved in it.

Former principal Dr Muhammad Saeed said the lithotripsy machine was purchased through a transparent process and “vested interests want to create a controversy.” He said the unsuccessful bidder tried to influence him through a prominent figure to procure his machine but he failed.

Prof Dr Mumtaz Ahmed said it’s the latest machine the likes of which are being used in many countries. He claimed that he had got Rs15 million from the secretary health (for purchase) after intense efforts.

MS Dr Afzal Saqib claimed that the lithotripsy machine remained non-functional for some time but it was again put to use when its part was imported from France.

Giving their version, Director Finance Noor Tariq and procurement official Athar Akbar said they were not responsible for the purchase of the machine and had only released funds.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2015

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