Pakistan: Rs 22.825 Million Medicines Reportedly Missing From Quetta Hospital, Committee Seeks Explanation

Quetta, Pakistan, September 10, 2026: The Balochistan Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed concern over Rs 22.825 million Pakistani Rupees worth of medicines missing from the Sandeman Provincial Civil Hospital in Quetta. 

The PAC had asked the Health Department and Hospital administration to show valid records and receipts within 15 days. Officials from the Sandeman Provincial Civil Hospital were also warned that failure to produce satisfactory explanations would be taken seriously and that the case could be handed over to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) or lead to the registration of an FIR. 

The matter was discussed during a PAC meeting led by Asghar Ali Tareen, where members reviewed the hospital's special audit paragraphs for the 2022–23 financial year. 

Also see: Delhi Seizes Fake Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine as CDSCO Issues Nationwide Alert for Batch KE25012

The PAC was told that the hospital was allocated Rs. 10.443 billion between the years 2017-18 and 2021-22. From the total amount, around Rs. 9.576 billion was spent, according to Sandeman Provincial Civil Hospital.

However, the officials were unable to provide a full expenditure report that was asked for by the PAC.

The committee also questioned the officials about a purchase of Rs 30.016 million worth of medicine. According to the reports, the PAC found major violations in the receipts and ordering process for these medicines.

According to the PAC, the committee found that the FDL in Peshawar received the order for the medicines, however, the payment was made to Health Tech in Quetta. 

The auditors also pointed out that invoices did not match the original orders, and they found no record of delivery challans, inspection reports, or stock register entries. 

Also see: Vadodara Fake Doctor Arrested: Class 10 Pass Man Allegedly Practised for 15 Years

The Departmental Accounts Committee was told that FDL in Peshawar is the manufacturer of the medicines and Health Tech is the authorized distributor, so the payment was made to Health Tech in Quetta. However, the officials still failed to provide many documents, including FDL’s consent forms. 

During the audit, the PAC also found that the dates in the stock register had been tampered with by adding a few entries after the relevant dates.

Another audit point found another discrepancy regarding medicine stock worth Rs. 22.8 million. The medicines had disappeared from the central store in 2019-20.

During that time, the pharmacist had allegedly reported the issue to the administration, but the issue remains unsettled.

The shortage and discrepancies were denied by the department; however, the PAC was not satisfied with the provided documentation. The committee chair said that the chief secretary would be informed about the matter and it would also be presented to the Balochistan Assembly.

(Rh/ARC/MSM)