Rs 370 million irregularities detected in health ministry audit.

(From Business Recorder)

Byline: MUHAMMAD BILAL

The Auditor-General of Pakistan has detected financial irregularities of more than Rs 370 million in the Ministry of Health. According to the audit report on the accounts of Federal Government (Civil) Audit Year 2003-04, the government hospitals are charging 106 percent higher drug prices than those at which these are being supplied to hospitals.

The report says that the Drug Wing of Health Division did not maintain the cash book of government receipts and did not reconcile government receipts deposited by pharmaceutical firms through treasury challans in SBP/NBP throughout Pakistan in the shape of Drug Manufacture Licence Fee, Licence Renewal Fee, Site Verification and Layout Plan Fee, Repacking Fee, Drug Registering Fee and Advertisement Fee, causing a loss of Rs 81.71 million.

The government sustained a loss of Rs 5.55 million due to less deposit of 1 percent contribution towards Central Research Fund in case of 10 …