Balkh: 17m afs extra charged in hospital items’ purchase

Pajhwok received price quotations from Wahidullah Furniture, D Com Computer Sales, Abdul QaharAzeemi Business Centre, National Stationary Sales, Aminullah Sales Centre, Anar Dargi Limited, AspaFarma, ZinanAbasin Limited and other medical companies.

Pajhwok reporter in northern Balkh province tried to contact officials in the Marmal District Hospital, but no contact could be established with them regarding the expensive purchase of equipment for the clinic.

Pajhwok also reached out to former Balkh Health Director Dr. Naseer Ahmad Durrani on November 1, and shared the matter of expensive purchase of hospital equipment.

He said recommendation for this project, agreement of the health ministry and approval of budget for the purchase of these items and all other related process had been completed before he took charge and he had only demanded payment for the company.

“This case has landed at the Public Health Ministry audit office as well, they conducted their inspection and found no contrast in the prices and quality of the equipment because the inspection and procurement officials checked these prices with the market prices of the time,” he said.

But incumbent Health Department Director Dr. Khalil Hikmati said contract for purchasing hospital equipment had already been inked before his appointment. However, he said, if there were doubts regarding the purchase of items, a third party should investigate alleged corruption.

“Companies are bound to pay tax to the government, therefore they are allowed to purchase an item at 25 percent higher rate but if this percentage is exceeded, than it is unfair,” he said.

Seven purchased items could not be delivered to the hospitals after the passage of one year

Women and Children Drug Addicts Hospital Director Dr. Esmatullah Karimi said seven items from the total 47 items had not been delivered to them so far.

“A conference desk, five single beds, five locally-made bed sheets, 210 square metres curtains and related materials, three gas cylinders, four food appliances and four teapots have not been transferred to the hospital,” he said.

He claimed items which had not been handed over were still in the warehouse of the health department and they often requested the ministry to deliver these items to the hospital.

Dr. Hikmati acknowledged these items were in the warehouse but no one had asked him to hand over these items to the drug hospital.

Who is the owner of Bam Dunya Logistic Company?

A source in the ministry of Commerce and Industry said that Toryali head of the Bam Dunya Logistic Company is the son of Sultan Mohammad and the company assistant Nangyali is the brother of Toryali. The License No. of the company is D41802.

According to Toryali, the above items are purchased according to the market price and there was no difference existed.

Referring to the purchase of ambulance, he said the vehicle is zero kilometer and was fully equipment with advance necessary machinery.

Pajhwok shared expensive purchase of medical equipment with the Ministry of Health eight days earlier, but the ministry did not respond.

According to a well-placed source in the ministry the matter was being investigated by the audit department of the ministry.

This report has been produced by Pajhwok and financially supported by UNDP.

nh/ma