Embezzlements in PIMS: Senate body decides to refer 'corrupt' cases to FIA

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has expressed serious concern over irregularities, corruption and stealing of machineries from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital, Islamabad and decided to refer the matter to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for investigation.
The committee met with Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood in the chair at Parliament House on Tuesday where it discussed the issues related to employees whose services were made unparallel and unequal on deputation basis in PIMS hospital, employees of Federal General Hospital Chak Shahzad and others.
While discussing the issues of PIMS hospital, the committee chairman said the doctors of hospital were involved in embezzlements, irregularities and misuse of authority, by dividing in various groups. The committee summoned Dr Ayesha Ishani and director of purchase and finance of the instruments of PIMS hospital and also sought external audit reports of last three years of the hospital in its next meeting.
It was revealed before the committee meeting those instruments and machineries were purchased with billions of rupees for PIMS hospital before construction led wall and building for their installation. It was informed to the committee that a liver transplant of Rs 480 million was purchased and treatment of only one patient was carried out which could not be survived too.
The committee was informed that ceramic tiles worth Rs 180 million were fixed in out-patient department (OPD) and corridors in the PIMS hospital. It was also told that endoscope machine and other machineries were stolen from the store of PIMS hospital.
After having detailed discussion, the committee decided to refer these cases to FIA for investigation and said that strict action should be taken against those found involved.
Talha Mehmood said that a plot was given to Shifa International Hospital in the name of charity but it was looting patients, adding that a patient of liver transplant is paying Rs 5.5 million to Shifa International Hospital for treatment.
Committee member Senator Hidayat Ullah said that as many as 247 officers were working on deputation there. He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan provinces were targeted and 24 doctors were sent back to provinces. He said Dr Ayesha Ishani herself working on deputation in PIMS hospital but she sent back 24 doctors to their provinces with her signature.
Administrator Dr Muhammad Altaf told the committee members that the Supreme Court has directed to constitute a committee to examine case-to-case and to submit its report. Vice Chancellor, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University Dr Javed Akram said the PIMS hospital and university should be separated but the university should not be rolled back. I will tender resignation if the university was rolled back, he added. Senator Kalsoom Perveen said the ministry of capital administration and development division (CADD) should not interfere in the affairs of PIMS hospital and university.