Quetta, Nov 3 — The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Balochistan Assembly has sharply criticized the provincial Health Department for failing to act on directives regarding large-scale financial irregularities, illegal procurement, and missing medical supplies at Sandeman Provincial Hospital in Quetta, local media reported on Monday.
The committee, chaired by PAC Chairman Asghar Ali Tareen, reviewed a special audit report on the hospital and several audit observations concerning the Health Department, according to Dawn. The findings revealed illegal medicine purchases worth PKR 30.02 million, missing drugs valued at PKR 22.83 million, and overpriced oxygen cylinders that caused losses of PKR 1.34 million.
The audit noted that hospital officials failed to maintain stock registers and inspection records. While the department claimed that Health Tech Quetta, an authorized distributor of Frontier Dactrol Ltd Peshawar, handled the supply and payments, the PAC found the explanation unsatisfactory.
Expressing frustration over the lack of progress, Tareen said, “Eight months have passed since the PAC issued directives, yet there has been no result.” He ordered that the responsible officers be identified and warned that non-compliance would lead to FIRs and dismissals.
Committee members Safia Bibi and Haji Wali Muhammad Noorzai demanded strict adherence to the Balochistan Public Procurement Rules, emphasizing that failure to comply with PAC instructions would result in disciplinary recommendations. The committee also called for a comparative price analysis of suppliers to detect discrepancies.
The audit further revealed that medicines worth PKR 22.83 million went missing from Civil Hospital Quetta’s stores in 2019–20, allegedly due to a pharmacist’s negligence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, oxygen cylinders were bought at PKR 40,000 each against a contract rate of PKR 537, with all quotations written in identical handwriting—raising serious concerns over transparency. The PAC directed the Health Secretary to launch a formal inquiry within a week.
