Several officials of Gujranwala Teaching Hospital have been suspended after a large number of government medicines were recovered from a private warehouse.
The suspended officials and staff members are directed to report to the Punjab Health Department pending the outcome of the investigation.
Suspended officials from the hospital
- Additional Principal and Warehouse Medical Officer (APWMO) Dr Shazia Afzal
- Pharmacist Nighat Saeed
- Storekeeper Mohammed Asghar
- Ward cleaner Dawood Noor
Moreover, a committee has been set up to investigate the alleged theft of government medicines and their transfer to a private warehouse, after the discovery. The committee has been tasked with finding out how the medicines were removed from hospital premises and identifying those responsible for it.
The director of monitoring will head the inquiry committee. A representative of the Gujranwala district administration will also be part of the committee, giving both the health department and local administration a role in the probe.
The case has raised concerns over the handling of government medical supplies at public hospitals. Further action may be taken against those found responsible, once the inquiry is complete.
On the other hand, earlier, prices for 52 life-saving drugs to be fixed this month, following a scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Federal Minister for Health, and officials from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
According to sources, the Prime Minister, Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DRAP will hold a meeting on Monday.
Also read: Prices of 52 life-saving drugs likely to be fixed this month