LAYYAH, Oct 8: An audit team has recommended recovery of salaries from 20 contract employees of the Health Department because they were posted by district health authorities in violation of service rules.

The recommendation has been made in a test audit report of the regional audit directorate.

The Layyah executive district officer for health posted 20 contract employees on temporary duties at the district hospital “on the request of District Nazim Malik Ghulam Haider”. These employees included specialist doctors, medical officers and paramedics.

An audit team recommended recovery of Rs506,877 from four contract employees working at Choubara tehsil hospital.

According to the rules, “A government servant may not be posted at a temporary headquarters outside his place of posting for a period exceeding three months”. Moreover, departmental terms and conditions show that contract staff cannot be transferred and any attempt to manipulate their transfer from the place of posting shall lead to termination of the contract without any notice.

During the audit of the Choubara tehsil hospital, the audit team found that surgeon Dr Ramzan Sumra, head nurse Muhammad Shafique, dispenser Abdul Muqeet and operation theatre assistant Rafiullah were working outside their place of posting. The audit team recommended recovery of Rs264,000 from Sumra, Rs197,796 from Shafique, Rs25,045 from Muqeet and Rs20,036 from Rafiullah.

Similarly, the audit team recommended recovery of over Rs1 million from 16 contract employees who were posted at the tehsil hospital, rural health centres and basic health units, but working at the district hospital.

Executive District Officer for Health Dr Fazal Kareem said general duties of these officials were readjusted against their original posting stations, adding the irregularity had been regularised by the competent authority.

Pakistan Medical Association representative Dr Javed Iqbal said these contract employees were suffering for the ‘wrongdoings’ of the district nazim. He said these officials had not been given salaries for the last four or five months.