ISLAMABAD: A subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services (NHS) on Friday took up Auditor General’s report about irregularities in the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP), and recommended strict action against those who spent funds against the rules.

Secretary National Health Services (NHS) Naveed Kamran Baloch, however, argued that the irregularities identified in the report could not be declared corruption.

Senator Ashok Kumar, on the other hand, said X-Ray machines worth Rs270 million were purchased without tender for TB centres.

Besides, the NTP also gives funds, received from Global Fund, to private organisations without following rules.

The programme has not even signed a rent agreement with the owner of the building in Islamabad and paid rent in advance.

He said the audit report had found Rs600 million, spent on vehicles and their fuel in a year, too high,” he said.

Dr Kumar from the National Party said the corruption level in far flung areas was even higher such as in Mithi, capital of Tharparkar District Sindh, Rs7.2 million had been earmarked on the renovation of a two-room building.

The NHS secretary said the irregularities could not be called corruption until the NTP submitted a reply to the allegations.

“Last year, the Global Fund gave only $81 million, out of which $62 million were spent on purchase of medicines and vaccines which were directly paid by the fund. The rest of the amount was distributed among the provinces,” he said.

The NTP representative said machines were purchased in a hurry, therefore, tender was not advertised, and were directly purchased by the Global Fund.

The Global Fund mobilises and invests nearly $4 billion a year to support programmes run by local experts in countries and communities most in need. The goal of the fund is to eradicate TB, Aids and malaria.

The committee, chaired by Senator Ghous Mohammad Niazi, sought a complete report about purchase of machines,expenses by non-governmental organisations, salaries of employees and detail of construction of TB Centre in Mithi.

After the meeting secretary NHS told Dawn said auditor general identified a number of irregularities and when he received satisfactory response reply from the department involved many audit objections were removed.

“Even at Public Accounts Committee, irregularities of trillion of rupees are settled after seeking reply from agencies concerned.

“Moreover Global Fund also has a very strict and transparent audit mechanism. So there are less chances of corruption,” he said.

While replying to a question, Mr Baloch agreed that the allegation of corruption might divert Global Fund funding to any other country.

The ministry also monitors all the activities of its ancillary departments and Director General Dr Asad Hafeez also ensures that everything should be transparent, he said.

“However, parliamentarians have every right to ask questions about the programme and they will be given satisfactory reply,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2017