Health Desk:Â
QUETTA: A special audit by the Auditor General of Pakistan has uncovered financial irregularities exceeding Rs. 4.45 billion at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital (BMC), Quetta, over five fiscal years from 2017-18 to 2021-22. The audit report highlights mismanagement in procurement, contracts, taxation, and financial records.
Key Findings of the Audit Report
• Unaccounted Expenses: The hospital failed to provide records for expenditures worth Rs. 382.2 million.
• User Charges Discrepancy: Over Rs. 50 million in user charges were not deposited into the government treasury.
• Rental Revenue Loss: More than Rs. 16.2 million in rental income from hospital premises was not collected.
• X-ray Revenue Mismanagement: An amount of Rs. 8.89 million from X-ray fees was underreported.
• Tax Irregularities: The hospital failed to deduct Rs. 5.5 million in Balochistan Sales Tax on Services.
• Scholarship and Honorarium Violations: Financial mismanagement exceeding Rs. 1.16 billion was reported in payments to postgraduates.
• Medical Gases Procurement: Unnecessary spending of Rs. 23.8 million on medical gases was identified.
• Funds Released Without Approval: Financial irregularities worth Rs. 388.4 million occurred due to fund releases without authorization.
• Overpriced Rabies Vaccine Purchase: The hospital spent Rs. 35.1 million on overpriced anti-rabies vaccines.
• Local Medicine Purchases: Over Rs. 9.53 million in irregularities were found in local medicine procurement.
• Undelivered Medicines: Pharmaceutical companies failed to supply Rs. 53.8 million worth of medicines.
• Unauthorized Medicine Procurement: Medicines worth Rs. 79.5 million were purchased without official approval and tendering processes.
• Additional Drug Procurement Irregularities: The report also noted Rs. 281.3 million in further discrepancies in medicine supply.
The audit findings raise serious concerns about financial management at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital. Authorities are expected to take corrective measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the hospital’s financial operations.
