QUETTA: Captain (Retd) Fazeel Asghar, Chief Secretary Balochistan constitutes a committee to curb corruption from health sector.
In order to provide quality health services to the poor people of Balochistan, transparency must be ensured by forming a committee for reforms in the health department of Balochistan. The audit and monitoring system has failed, the health department needs concrete steps to make the procurement process transparent.
These views were expressed by the Chief Secretary Balochistan Fazeel Asghar and Director General NAB Balochistan Farmanullah Khan during a workshop held on reform in the health department organized by NAB Balochistan. Secretary Finance, Additional Secretary Health, Secretary Planning and Development, Vice Chancellor Bolan University of Health and Medical Sciences, DG Health Service, Medical Superintendents, Officers of Provincial Drugs Testing Lab, Institute of Health, DRAP attended the workshop. Appreciating the efforts of NAB on the occasion, Chief Secretary Balochistan Fazal Asghar said that urgent steps have to be taken to eradicate corruption from the very noble profession of health sector.
Giving directives for constituting a committee for health sector he said that the establishment of the committee would make it possible to eradicate corruption from the health department. “Corruption in the sacred sector of health is tantamount to oppression,” he said. Stressing on the need for joint efforts, he said that better reforms could be brought about through an integrated strategy.
DG NAB said that in cases where fake purchases are made in flagrant violation of BEPRA Rules in the Health Department, cases under the BEDA Act should be immediately referred to the NAB Anti-Corruption.
Stressing the need for adopting transparent system, he said that standard bidding documents need to be reviewed to prevent counterfeit purchases, Procurement contracts are awarded to smaller firms for corruption purposes. Manufacturing firms must be included.
Director General NAB Balochistan said that in the past there was a perception of corruption in the B and R department and customs department but now there are most complaints of corruption in the health and education department. “The system has collapsed due to the scourge of corruption,” he said adding that a common man is in trouble. Purchases are just on papers not on ground. The audit and monitoring system has failed. Professional training of officers is required before appointment to administrative posts.
Stressing the need for concrete steps to make the procurement process transparent in the health department, he said that there was an urgent need for reforms in the health department. Acting under the Beda Act, cases of fake procurement should be immediately referred to NAB or Anti-Corruption Establishment. DG NAB said that it is always deplorable to arrest a vice chancellor or a doctor. The Director General, NAB Balochistan, informed the participants that the purpose of the workshop was to discuss with all the stakeholders on issues related to corruption in the health sector and after thorough deliberation, Develop concrete strategies to eliminate shortcomings and corruption.
Earlier, the participants of the workshop presented their suggestions for prevention of corruption from the health sector.