HYDERABAD: The Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS) registrar has constituted an inquiry committee to look into the complaint of Rs70m procurement for the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) despite severe financial constraints.

A complaint to this regard was made by LUH Director (Admin & Procurement) Dr Sajjan Halepoto.

According to the notification issued by the registrar on July 12, the committee comprises Prof Dr Munawar Alam Ansari, dean faculty of medicine & allied sciences / member Drug Regulatory Authority, Prof Dr Ashok Kumar, dean faculty of surgery & allied sciences, Prof Dr Rasool Bux Behan, in charge department of surgery unit-IV and Prof Dr Ahsan Laghari, in-charge department of surgery unit-III.

The committee would submit its report within three days.

The LUH admin director, in his complaint, said that the articles / items worth Rs70m were purchased amid severe financial constraint and without consulting his office.

The complaint triggered yet another controversy involving the LUH.

Dr Sajjan Halepoto wrote to Vice Chancellor of the LUMHS, who is also chairman of the hospital’s management Board by virtue of his office, on July 8 drawing his attention to, what he said, ‘bypassing of his office in supply chain management of LUH.

He stated he has learnt that on the basis of a demand floated by Prof Dr Arshad Abro, head of Innovative Advanced Surgery (IAS) supply orders worth Rs70m were issued.

He said that this has taken place at a time when the LUH is awaiting revised budget estimates (REs) for 2024-25 budgetary allocations for LUH. He mentioned that entire supply was directly delivered to the said department without following standard and mandatory procedures of supply management chain. He said that all these orders were issued to a single vendor, raising serious concerns regarding transparency and procedural compliance.

LUH Medical Superintendent Dr Ali Akbar Dahri, in his rejoinder, had informed the VC on July 11 that his office issued supply orders but due to financial constraints of the hospital, “the supply of items was not provided at bulk store of this hospital so the question of financial loss does not arise”.

He also accused Dr Sajjan Halepoto of continuously creating problems for the hospital “only for his personal interest”.

The MS said that Dr Sajjan was non-cadre officer posted in his hospital on a cadre post which was gross violation of service rules. He alleged that the director has occupied office of MS LUH (in hospital’s Jamshoro branch) illegally and removed boards of MSs and put them near the wash room. He requested VC to approach competent authority to get him removed from this hospital in public interest.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2025