QUETTA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Balochistan Assembly has expressed annoyance over the health department’s failure to utilise Rs3 billion allocated in the budget, which was returned unused to the finance department.

The committee, during a meeting presided over by its chairman Asghar Ali Tareen, reviewed the accounts of the provincial health department and noted the failure to utilise significant funds allocated for the financial year 2021-22.

The return of these funds to the finance department was described as a serious injustice to the people of the province and indicative of inefficiency on the part of senior health officials. “It shows the negligence of the health department officials,” Mr Tareen said, warning that strict action would be taken if such mismanagement occurred again.

The PAC reviewed the appropriation accounts for FY22 and the audit paras of the health department for 2022-23. The meeting was attended by members Fazal Qadir Mandokhail and Rahmat Saleh Baloch, and other senior officials. They condemned the department’s inability to utilise the funds, especially considering previous requests for an additional Rs5bn.

Orders ensuring timely provision of medicines in all hospitals

The unspent Rs3bn was cited as a clear sign of incompetence, depriving citizens of crucial healthcare services. The PAC members highlighted the shortage of life-saving medicines in hospitals, which leads to preventable deaths, while non-functional oxygen plants exacerbate the crisis and waste public resources.

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The PAC directed the administration of Bolan Medical College (BMC) Hospital to upgrade its oxygen plant immediately, as it serves low-income communities and frequently faces oxygen shortages.

The committee said it would advocate for special funding from the chief minister and instructed the health department to ensure the timely provision of medicines in all hospitals.

The PAC also raised concerns about the disbursement of inappropriate allowances to staff and demanded a thorough investigation within 15 days. They also addressed issues of corruption, particularly regarding the purchase of ambulances at inflated rates during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The committee emphasised that all foreign donations intended for public welfare would be subject to audit. It expressed alarm over the withdrawal of Rs957.354 million from the accountant general’s office in small amounts on the last day of the fiscal year. The PAC ordered an inquiry into this matter within 15 days, warning that failure to provide a satisfactory explanation could lead to a referral to the anti-corruption department.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2024