HYDERABAD: A probe committee has recommended disciplinary action and institution of inquiries against a teacher of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences and three doctors of Liaquat University Hospital for their role in unauthorised procurement of Rs70 million worth items for the LUH.

The five-member committee was formed by LUMHS vice chancellor on a complaint filed by LUH Director (Administration & Procurement) Dr Sajjan Halepoto against Prof Dr Arshad Hussain Abro for alleged procedural violations, procurement anomalies and potential misconduct in the acquisition of various surgical items for the hospital in June this year.

The committee led by Prof Dr Munawar Alam Ansari (convener) and Prof Dr Feroz Ali Kalhoro, Prof Dr Ashok Kumar, Prof Dr Rasool Bux Behan and Prof Dr Ahsan Laghari (members), called several doctors besides the university teachers for recording statements.

Prof Abro denied having issued any demand letters or having signed inspection reports and disowned signatures [on documents], but RMO (store) Dr Ravi confirmed receiving the demand from Prof Abro via MS Office, which were processed into purchase orders. He said the [procured] items never reached bulk store.

Dr Halepoto said that supply orders worth about Rs70m were issued without following standard supply chain procedures.

Dr Poonam Jatoi, a former additional MS (store), said that she relinquished the charge on May 30, 2025, prior to the procurement and refused to sign inspection reports brought to her after her transfer.

Dr Niaz Babar disclosed that he took over the charge after the purchases had been made and confirmed that no record of items existed in the bulk store.

Additional MS (kitchen) Dr Ali Nawaz Abbasi admitted signing the inspection report as a matter of routine but he was uncooperative and issued threats to the committee while challenging its jurisdiction.

RMO Dr Asif Memon sought time to verify his role regarding purchase department.

The enquiry report observed that Prof Abro initiated demand or non-essential demand and arguably superfluous surgical items valued at Rs70m, circumventing established protocols and bypassing requisite administrative channels.

The MS proceeded to issue purchase orders to a single vendor, M/S I.S. Enterprise notwithstanding acute financial constraints that had adversely impacted the hospital’s ability to procure even essential medical supplies.

The report said that Prof Abro was compelled to return the disputed items to the vendor with video evidence substantiating the return process after the intervention of Director (Administration & Procurement) Dr Halepoto.

It recommended any of five major penalties against Prof Abro after finding him responsible for unauthorised procurement of the hospital items.

The committee advised LUH Hospital Management Board’s chairman and Sindh Secretary of Health to initiate inquiries against Dr Ali Nawaz Abbasi, Dr Zainul Abidin and Dr Asif Memon and proposed disciplinary action against Dr Abbasi for serious misconduct and threatening behaviour towards the committee, which disrupted investigations.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2025