The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has initiated a comprehensive audit of the annual medical purchases worth 9 billion rupees by the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) for its network of hospitals and dispensaries. This decision follows several allegations pertaining to the procurement of substandard medicines and equipment, potentially involving financial irregularities amounting to billions of rupees.

Chaired by Nisar Khuhro, the PAC reviewed SESSI’s financial reports for the fiscal years 2018 and 2019. The meeting was attended by key figures including the Secretary of the Labour Department, Rafiq Qureshi, and SESSI Commissioner Miandad Rahoujo. Discussions centered on the substantial financial resources allocated for health care provision for industrial workers and SESSI employees, with reports indicating that 70% of SESSI’s 13 billion rupee fund is earmarked for health services.

Despite this, there are ongoing complaints about the quality of medicines provided in these institutions. President Khuhro highlighted these issues, noting that while most purchases are made through formal tenders, about 30% of the procurement is done locally through directors, where most of the purchasing issues have been identified.

To address these operational challenges, hospital management committees have been established, and a plan worth 1.4 billion rupees for the infrastructure development of Valika Hospital has been approved, expected to commence within the year.

Furthermore, the meeting expressed serious concerns about compliance with labor laws, particularly regarding the implementation of a minimum monthly wage of 37,000 rupees in industrial units. The Commissioner reported that while a portion of registered industrial units complies with this wage, a large number of private security personnel are on lower salaries, reflecting an 80% noncompliance rate in the private sector.

The PAC meeting revealed financial irregularities related to 50 million rupees in wrongful payments for repair works of SESSI’s institutions. In response, the PAC has tasked the Secretary of Labour with conducting a thorough investigation and reporting on these erroneous transactions.