10 officers sacked over KP medicines scandal

PESHAWAR: Show-cause notices have been issued to 10 KP Health Department employees for their involvement in a Rs1.368 billion medicine scandal, while orders have been issued for dismissal of all the officers from service.

According to details, irregularities were unearthed in the procurement of medicines.

The procurement took place during the caretaker government, after which Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur approved a strict action against alleged corruption, mismanagement, and irregularities in the Health Department.

Under this action, 10 officers have been dismissed from service, and among them, eight officers have been served show-cause notices for the recovery of Rs171 million each, while two employees have only been dismissed without any financial penalty.

According to the notices, serious financial irregularities were discovered during the purchase, storage, delivery, and payments related to medicines in the health department. The inquiry report stated that the officers ignored rules and regulations, purchased substandard medicines, made illegal payments to companies, and rendered the monitoring system ineffective, causing the national treasury losses worth millions of rupees. Based on this, the chief minister approved a strict action under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules 2011.

According to sources, the officers facing dismissal and financial recovery include former DG Health Services Dr. Shaukat Ali, Additional DG Health Dr. Siraj Muhammad, DHO Dir Dr. Irshad Ali Roghani, Drug Inspector Ziaullah, Accountant Fazal Dayan, Computer Operator Zakariya, Office Assistant Umar Khitab, and Computer Operator Ali Nawaz. All of them have been ordered to pay Rs171 million each.

On the other hand, Khurram Shehzad, Logistic Officer of the Health Department, and Pharmacy Technician Muhammad Islam, have also been found guilty in the inquiry and dismissed from service. However, since no financial embezzlement could be proven against them, no recovery will be made from them.

All officers and employees have been directed to submit a written explanation within 10 to 14 days.

Officials stated that if no response was received within the stipulated time, it would be considered as no defense and unilateral action will be initiated under the law.

Meanwhile, some officers told this correspondent that they are being falsely implicated in a baseless case and that they did not commit any embezzlement.

They said some companies did not supply medicines, and therefore recovery should be made from them.