Inquiry initiated against Mian Munshi hospital’s ex-MS on corruption charges

LAHORE: The Specialized Healthcare & Medical

Education Department (SHC&MED) has initiated an inquiry against Dr Adnan-ul-Qamar, ex-medical superintendent of Government Mian Munshi DHQ Teaching Hospital, Lahore on the charges of inefficiency, misconduct and corruption amounting to Rs211.75 million.

In addition, the misappropriation was also found under various heads to the tune of Rs61.448 million in audit report and Rs85.338 million in ordinary audit paras.

The SHC&MED, in a notification, alleged that Dr Adnan-ul-Qamar as Additional Medical Superintendent having additional charge of MS, Mian Munshi Hospital and MS, Said Mitha Hospital, had committed the acts of omissions and commissions, including getting an exaggerated budget from the government for provision of better facilities. He received commission from preferred vendors for supplying regular items like wipes, tablets, sanitizers and others.

The notification alleges that Dr Adnan supported certain specific companies by replacing hospital equipment with their second hand machines in laboratories and portraying them as donated equipment although there is no provision in the law for the same.

The notification accuses Dr Adnan of committing over-invoicing of laboratory chemicals, selected medicine items, surgical disposable items, and non-essential, etc. He allegedly transferred preferred dispenser as storekeeper, who assisted him in keeping the record straight while managing embezzlement. Dr Adnan is also accused of granting additional charge of MS to a doctor of own choice in teaching hospitals for assist in “corruption”.

During his tenure, medicine, surgical disposable items, equipment and other regular items of Mian Munshi Hospital were being used at Said Mitha Hospital, while receiving government funds for both hospitals.

The News had reported on October 17 last year, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Punjab, presented a report to (the then) Punjab Chief Minister for necessary action corruption and misappropriation of funds of over Rs200 million at Mian Munshi Hospital and Said Mitha Hospital during Dr Adnan-ul-Qamar's incumbency as MS of the two hospitals in Lahore.

The News had tried to reach out to Dr Adnan-ul-Qamar by phone, but he did not respond to the calls. The then Punjab’s Caretaker Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Prof Dr Javed Akram had said the MS concerned would be immediately removed and a strict action would be taken on the IB report in this regard.