LARKANA: The District Health Officer (DHO), Kambar-Shahdadkot, in a letter addressed to the Secretary, Health Department, Government of Sindh, has pinpointed missing / unavailability of 16 costly vital items based on the list of approved ADP scheme No: 687 of 28th April, 2021.

The alleged missing items include five Resuscitation Trolleys, two infant incubators, 15 phototherapy units, one each diathermy, dental x-ray, auto Refractometer with keratometer and glucometer, eight OT Tables, six minor OT instruments Spot, 15 suction machines, eight OT Lights, two each anesthesia machines and ultrasound machines, 35 stabilizers, two microscopes and three centrifuge machines. The total cost of these most essential machines is millions of rupees.

DHO urged the health secretary in his letter to immediately arrange inspection and a thorough probe of the missing items. DHO further wrote that Ex-DHO Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Jagirani (who was holding the charge of DHO) left the office without handing over the charge to me and the said officer also did not obtain relieving order from me, he added.

Copies of this letter (dated: 29th November 2021) have also been sent to the Director General, Health Services, Sindh, Hyderabad, Director, Health Services, Larkana and Deputy Commissioner, Kambar-Shahdadkot.

DHO Dr. Qurban Magsi said while talking with this scribe on Monday confirmed having written the letter to health secretary adding payment was made ahead of delivery of the missing items which are yet to be received as per supply order. He said some of the suppliers have now contacted him after his letter to the health secretary that they are ready to supply the items which have become costly now. He said he will never compromise on quality and quantity of the items mentioned in the supply order.

He said an inquiry was also conducted by the Director, Health Services and a report has been sent by him to higher authorities but action is still awaited against the relevant irresponsible and negligent officer. These items were procured for various hospitals of Kambar-Shahdadkot district including Kambar, Shahdadkot, Miro Khan, Sujawal Hospitals and others for the benefit of poor patients, he added. Larkana Health Services Director Dr. Rustom Bhutto was contacted to have his comments but he neither attended the call nor called back.