KARACHI, June 9: The Sindh government has in principle approved a policy and standard operating procedure (SOP) under which a committee would be formed to manage the non-government fund at the public sector medical colleges in the province, said official sources.

The policy and procedures envisage the authority of principal as drawing and disbursing officer (DDO) for the expenditure of no-government fund.

With effect from July 1, 2002, each college would maintain three bank accounts with commercial banks with the prior approval of the competent authority, for the purpose of non-government funds, added the source.

The major source for non-government funds in medical colleges are the amounts generated through the sale of seats in MBBS and BDS classes. In the case of overseas Pakistanis and foreign nationals, who are offered admissions to the provincial colleges on self-finance basis (54 seats), the response is declining. But as far as the 115 MBBS and 6 BDS seats reserved on self-finance basis in different medical colleges of the province are concerned, these are filled every year.

According to the distribution and allocation, five per cent of the fund collected annually will be placed as the Health Minister’s Discretionary Fund to be distributed to various health facilities and institutions during his visits. Two per cent will be provided to the health department for the infrastructural support to medical education.

Fifty per cent of the annual collection in Pak rupee would be placed in term or fixed deposits or invested in a government investment scheme. It would not be available for the annual expenditure budget without approval of the health department.

On the other hand, all foreign currency funds will be placed in term or fixed deposits and will only be available for the annual expenditures’ budget with the approval of the health department. Under the government’s policy, 15 per cent of the annual collection will be advanced to the affiliated teaching hospitals.

The Fund Management Committee’s composition is as follows:

Principal of the medical college as chairman; one professor of Basic Science and one professor of Clinical Science as members on annual rotation basis, nominated by the academic council; vice- principal as member/secretary; finance manager who would be a non-government employee and would also be a member of the FMC.

The committee will meet on a monthly basis. Any special or emergency meeting can be convened on a three-day notice. The vice-principal will make all the necessary correspondence and ensure the holding of regular meetings of the committee.

The principal or DDO will be the officer in charge of the fund, while the finance manager will also act as treasurer. The committee will prepare the annual budget of the fund for approval of the administrative department, ie, health department, and will also be responsible for judicious utilization of the fund, which is earmarked for quality medical education, which includes improvement and upgradation of the relevant facilities at teaching hospitals.

According to the general rules for the non-government fund, it will only be utilised when the funds from the regular annual budget are not available. The health department can, at any time, suspend the usage and operation of the fund at any college.