DERA GHAZI KHAN: Three complainants in the case of mega drug scandal, including health chief executive officer, have been suspended from service under Punjab Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act 2006, sources told Dawn.

The suspended officials were identified as Health CEO Dr Muhammad Idrees Leghari, District Drugs Controller Faisal Mahmood and District Quality Control Board Secretary Muhammad Asif.

According to the sources, they had unearthed a mega scandal and uncovered the illegal network responsible for stealing and selling government medicines. As a result of their action, eight people, including health department employees, were arrested and stolen medicines were recovered in an operation during the last couple of days. As many as 1,400 cartons of children’s food supplements, including Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), and other medicines worth nearly Rs1bn were seized. The raids were conducted at the District Health Office and the Basic Health Centre in Sarwarwali where five rooms were sealed. A case regarding recovery of stolen medicines was registered with Gadai Police Station under the supervision of District Drugs Controller Faisal Mahmood.

Now the health secretary took action, suspended three officials, including CEO Idrees and Drugs Controller Faisal, from service and directed them to report to Lahore. Dr Idrees confirmed his suspension.

Three suspended officers had unearthed the scandal, led to recovery of medicines, arrest of eight people, including health dept employees

An inquiry committee, led by Deputy Secretary of Health Dr Khalil Ahmed Sikhani, has been formed to investigate the matter. Dr Sikhani, who previously served as CEO health in Dera Ghazi Khan, is currently the programme director at Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child Health & Nutrition Programme Punjab.

The sources alleged that the medicines, recovered during the operation launched by suspended officers, belonged to different tenures of different former CEOs of health. They claimed that these medicines, donated by the World Health Organistaion and other donors, were never distributed.

The scandal came to light when Pervez, a health department employee, was caught while attempting to transport government medicines to Peshawar. Following his arrest, Chief Drug Controller Faisal, who has been suspended now, initiated a thorough investigation. The scope of the investigation has since been expanded, with the case being handled by senior officials of the Anti-Corruption Establishment and the health department.

The scandal has sent shockwaves through the health sector, highlighting systemic corruption and mismanagement in the distribution of vital medicines meant for the public.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2025