MULTAN: The Punjab Health Department has suspended Nishtar Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul Rehman Qureshi and Additional Medical Superintendent (Admin) Dr Rafqiue Akhtar for misconduct.

“On receipt of complaint dated July 5, 2018 from the office of the commissioner, Multan, the services of Dr Abdul Rehman Qureshi BS-19 MS and Dr Rafique Akhtar, AMS Nishtar Hospital Multan are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect under section 6 of the Punjab Employees Efficiency Discipline and Accountability Act 2006 on the charges of misconduct,” says a notification issued on July 7.

Dr Qureshi is facing charges of corruption, misconduct, embezzlement and inefficiency. The National Accountability Bureau and Anti-Corruption Establishment are conducting a probe against him, one of his sons and other officials and private persons.

‘Son, other officials also involved in corruption’

On Feb15, hospital doctors had protested against the shortage of life-saving medicines in Nishtar. An inquiry in this regard was conducted and on April 11, then provincial minister for health Khawja Salman Rafique had held hospital administration responsible for showing negligence in providing medicines to patients.

On April 16, Dr Qureshi was transferred. However, he got a stay order from the Lahore High Court’s Multan bench.

Meanwhile, the NAB has started probe into alleged corruption against Dr Qureshi, his son and others and a letter in this regard was dispatched to the Nishtar Medical University/Hospital VC on June 5 who was asked to furnish the record since 2015 relating to purchases, appointments and promotions.

Complainant Kaleemullah Khan alleged that Dr Qureshi, his son, AMS Pharmacy Dr Shah Zaman, AMS Admin Dr Muhammad Rafique Akhtar and AMS Purchase Dr Naeem Asim were involved in illegal appointments and promotions besides corruption.

He alleged that Dr Qureshi through his son had committed corruption worth millions by making hundreds of appointments from grade 1 to16 in violation of merit and service rules and Dr Akhtar was equally involved in this act.

He stated that the ‘rate’ for grade 1 to grade 4 job was Rs0.2million, for grade 5 to grade 10 Rs0.3 million, from grade 11 to grade 15 Rs0.4 million and for grade 16 is Rs0.5 million. He said that many appointments were made by tampering the merit lists.

He said a number of promotions were also made in violation of rules. Some of the promotions were made against the posts which did not exist while no sanction or permission was sought from the government.

He alleged that medicines were purchased through local purchase in violation of public procurement regularity authority rules.

He claimed embezzlement in the purchase of fuel for generators and ambulances and purchase of equipment and their repair.Commissioner Nadim Irshad Kayani said that the MS was asked twice in the past to streamline hospital affairs but he failed.

Principal Medical Officer Dr Abdul Hafeez has been given the additional charge of the MS.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2018