Peshawar, Pakistan — The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has issued show-cause notices to medical superintendents of 24 hospitals — 13 secondary care and 11 primary care — for alleged violations of financial rules in the purchase of medicines worth Rs1.355 billion during the current financial year.
Director-General Health Services Dr Shaheen Afridi directed the officials to explain their position immediately, warning of disciplinary action if the irregularities are confirmed. The move follows complaints that hospitals bypassed the Chief Minister’s Medicines Operations Portal (CMMOP), made local purchases at higher rates, and failed to follow mandatory drug testing and procurement protocols. Officials say the lapses have affected patient care and wasted public funds that could have been used more efficiently.
KP health authorities seek explanations from 24 hospitals over irregular drug purchaseshttps://t.co/hSKUNGN07H#KhyberPakhtunkhwa #HealthDepartment#HospitalManagement #DrugProcurement#FinancialIrregularities #Accountability
— The_Nation (@The_Nation) March 24, 2026
Key Highlights
- Health department issues show-cause notices to medical superintendents of 24 hospitals over Rs1.355 billion in alleged irregular drug purchases.
- Hospitals accused of exceeding authorised purchase orders, making payments without Drug Testing
- Laboratory clearance, and violating 80 percent CMMOP utilisation rule.
- Most budget reportedly spent on local purchases at higher market rates instead of cheaper manufacturer supplies.
- Hospitals also accused of clearing previous year’s liabilities from current budget, against clear government directives.
- Health Secretary Shahidullah Khan says action will be taken based on the replies received from the concerned superintendents.
The notification highlights serious governance issues, including a reported nexus between some hospital officials, district health officers, and suppliers. Sources say many hospitals ignored instructions to use the centralised CMMOP system, which allows bulk purchases at significantly lower rates — often 50 percent cheaper than local market prices. Instead, large amounts were spent locally without proper quality testing, raising concerns about both financial loss and patient safety.
Health Secretary Shahidullah Khan had earlier directed all medical superintendents not to clear old liabilities from the current year’s budget and to seek separate funding if needed. Despite repeated reminders, several hospitals failed to comply, leading to the current scrutiny.
The department has stressed that the issue is not a shortage of funds but poor governance and lack of accountability. Replacing untrained storekeepers with qualified pharmacists and strictly enforcing centralised procurement are seen as essential steps to fix the system.
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