DERA GHAZI KHAN, Sept 19: In flagrant violation of rules and regulations, the executive district officer (health) consumed more than half of the total budget of Rs68 million for 2006-07 on the closing date of financial year, it is learnt.

Massive irregularities have surfaced as the EDO not only purchased expired medicines on the last date to account for the budgetary allocation but kept the people deprived of free medicines during the financial year.

Information gleaned by Dawn revealed that despite approval of tender for purchase of medicines twice in the financial year, EDO (Health) Pervaiz Hyder Altaf failed to initiate the process.

EDO (Finance & Planning) Haibit Khan told Dawn that after the approval of the budget, the authorities concerned were bound to initiate the gradual process for the procurement of drugs and medicines under classified financial head Ao3937.

The EDO spent Rs38 million on the entire process on the night of June 31 last. An official of the district accounts office said on the condition of anonymity that on the closing date (of 2006-07), the entire process were completed with the connivance of district accounts officials and tokens were issued of the same date.

He said the complaints of expired syrup, Sevidon, and tablets of Citquine provided to the rural health centres and basic health units poured in. Sources said the tablets were provided without packing on which the date of expiry was mentioned and the date on blister packs of tablets was also scratched.

The EDO (health) denied the allegations and said he had assumed the charge in the middle of last financial year which caused delay in purchase of medicines. He contested the rule that there should be gradual process of purchasing medicines, saying, “I am not bound to do so”.

When his attention was drawn towards the provision of expired drugs and medicines to the RHCs and BHUs, the EDO expressed ignorance.

DCO Mrs Iram Bukhari was not available for comment.