Audit report identifies Rs3.41bn worth of irregularities in health sector

An audit report has uncovered significant financial irregularities amounting to Rs3.41 billion within various departments of Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services. The findings, released by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), detail issues ranging from fraud and embezzlement to procurement-related irregularities and mismanagement of bank accounts.

The report identifies fraud, embezzlement, and misappropriation totaling Rs28.41 million. Additionally, procurement irregularities reached Rs1.779 billion, and issues in managing commercial bank accounts involved approximately Rs1.484 billion. While the audit department's intervention led to the recovery of Rs127.27 million, the scale of the identified discrepancies is substantial.

Adding to the concerns, the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC) reportedly refused to submit its accounts for auditing. This refusal violates a Supreme Court order from July 8, 2013, which mandates the auditing of such accounts. The AGP's report highlights these findings, underscoring a lack of transparency and accountability within parts of the health sector.