ACC uncovers medicine procurement irregularities in Pirojpur hospital

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has uncovered irregularities in the procurement and distribution of medicines at Pirojpur District Hospital, previously known as Pirojpur Sadar Hospital, during a three-hour raid today.

Although documents show that medicines were procured and distributed, investigators found no evidence of the medicines reaching the hospital.

Al Amin, storekeeper of the hospital, said that the contractor failed to supply the medicines. As a security measure, the hospital authorities have kept three cheques worth Tk 1.76 crore from the contractor, which will be returned after receiving the materials.

Md Jakir Hossain, assistant director of ACC's Pirojpur office, who led the raid, said the operation was conducted following instructions from the ACC's Dhaka office to investigate allegations of corruption.

"We found discrepancies. Procurement records show medicines were purchased and payments were made, but the medicines are absent from the storeroom. A total of 15,467 pieces of medicines from three generics are missing," he said.

The officials presented three cheques supposedly taken from the contractor as a guarantee, but Jakir said, "There is no legal provision for taking such cheques."

The ACC has sought all documents related to the procurement of medicines and other materials, and further investigations will determine the extent of the corruption, he said, adding that patients at the hospital were not being provided food properly either.

Md Mizanur Rahman, hospital's civil surgeon and superintendent, said the procurement process was carried out during the tenure of his predecessor. "I don't know the details of the process. We will cooperate fully with the investigation," he added.

Md Hasnat Yousuf Jaki, former civil surgeon now serving as the principal of Medical Assistant Training School in Bagerhat, said, "If a contractor fails to supply goods, the amount is adjusted with the security deposit. There is no reason to hold cheques for such large sums," he said, adding that he did not complete the tender process before leaving his post in Pirojpur.

Photo: Collected

Meanwhile, during the raid, the ACC caught two brokers red-handed while they were soliciting patients for diagnostic centres in Pirojpur town.

A mobile court led by Riaz Mahmud, assistant commissioner and executive magistrate of the Pirojpur deputy commissioner's office, sentenced the brokers to 15 days in jail and fined them Tk 100 each.

The convicted are Rahat Rabbani, son of Siraj Rabbani from Khamkata village, and Razib Mondal, son of Robin Mondal from Uttar Porgola village in Pirojpur Sadar upazila.