Health authorities moved against alleged illegal tenders at Services Hospital

Lahore: An alleged illegal award of tenders worth billions of rupees surfaced in a local hospital of the provincial capital, the sources privy to development said on Friday.

The sources said that an alleged illegal award of tenders worth Rs3.7 b took place at Services Hospital where the medical devices were made part of the tenders of surgical disposable items for the last seven years.

Saeed Anwar, a local citizen, moved an application of 26 pages to the Specialized Healthcare Department, and complained about the said tenders.

“Afzal Masih, an owner of a distributor company, secured the tenders through the connivance of some people,” said the complaint. Afzal Masih, according to the complaint, worked with a private company associated with Services Hospital. He was a wire repairer.

From 2016 to 2022, the complainant said, the fluid and blood warmer and convective warmer system were added to surgical disposable tenders.

Saeed Anwar said that Afzal Masih played his role in this regard as digital thoracic drain system worth Rs250 millions was also included in the 2017-18 tender.

He alleged that 50 crash cart trolleys were included in the 2018-19 tender, 50 nebulizer machines were added to the 2019-20 tender while the cost of a normal nebulizer machine was Rs100,000 instead of Rs3000 to Rs6000.

The complainant was of the view that Rs4, 500 were written in the tender of 2021-22, syringe pump and Lengroscope steel set were included in the surgical disposable.

The sources said that Afzal Masih had connections and he managed the audit in all the said contracts.

Saeed Anwar asked the relevant authorities to blacklist the company for its role in acquiring the illegal tenders and asked them to blacklist it.  He also appealed to take strict action against Afzal Maish for his involvement in this ‘fraud’.

Commenting on the said issue, Services Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Mudabbir said that he got all the tender record through his Whatsapp and read all the details.

“I joined recently but we will get it investigated,” said the MS.

He said that there would be complete transparency in the tenders for the upcoming year.