KARACHI: The management of the Kidney Centre and The Indus Hospital and Health Network have stated that they had submitted relevant documents to the provincial health department.

The two hospitals issued separate statements following publication of a story headlined ‘Hospitals in Sindh opt for silence on govt directive seeking audit report’, on Dec 3 in Dawn, which was based on a Sindh health department letter issued to around three dozen health facilities.

In its statement, the Kidney Centre stated that it had on Sept 4, 2023 submitted audited financial statements, utilisation report and bank statement for the financial year 2021-2022 to the health department and when it was asked to submit additional details of the previous and following years it had on Sept 6 submitted all the requisite information.

“All these financial statements are supported by the voluminous patient data relating to expenditures out of the Sindh government grants and thus every penny has been accounted for. This data is available for inspection,” it said, adding: “The Kidney Centre conforms to the highest standards required by the FBR and certified by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy. Our donor and granting benefactors deserve nothing less and any information to the contrary would be unfair and untrue,” says a press release.

A spokesperson for the Indus Hospital stated the health facility routinely submitted necessary documentation to all stakeholders especially the health department. “IHHN practices international standards of transparency and accountability. We get audited by the most renowned audit firms along with third party auditors. We appreciate the measures being taken by the health department to further improve transparency and fulfil all audit and performance reports as per the requirements of the agreement,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2023