MIANWALI, Sept 8: No medicine has been made available at nine rural health centres in the district for the last three months as a result of which patients have been suffering.The district government had released funds for the purchase of medicines and the EDO (health) invited tenders that were duly approved by the purchase committee in May last, but no medicine has so far reached the RHCs.The centres are located in Tarag, Qamar Mushani, Daudkhel, Mooch, Wan-Bhachran, Chakrala, Kundian, Hafizwala and Tabisar.

The district officer (health) told this correspondent that the EDO (health) was responsible for the purchase of medicines for the RHCs. EDO (Health) Dr Guftar Ahmad told Dawn that the district administration had allocated funds to all RHCs and now their managements were responsible for the purchase of medicines. As for the shortage of medicines, he said, he had directed the drug inspector to inquire into the issue.

Last year, a Rs5 million scam was unearthed when the EDO office was blamed for the purchase of substandard medicines and an inquiry committee confirmed charges of embezzlement. The report has since been lying with the provincial health secretary.

Sources told Dawn that dispute over distribution of commission among officials concerned had delayed provision of medicines to the health centres this time round.

Scores of people have protested against the apathy of the officials and demanded medicines availability.