Commissioner Orders Audit of Hospital Records, Flags Low Medicine Spending and Stock Management Issues
SWAT (Syed Shahabuddin): Essential medicines are available in only 34 percent of 35 secondary-level hospitals across Malakand Division, raising concerns over medicine supplies and healthcare management.
Commissioner Malakand Division Iqbal Hussain Bacha chaired a meeting of the Divisional Health Steering Committee to review healthcare performance, budget allocation and utilization, medicine availability, stock management, and the functionality of medical equipment in hospitals across the division.
The meeting was attended by deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, district health officers, and officials of the Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU).
During the briefing, officials shared health sector data covering fiscal years 2022-23 to 2026-27. They reported that health sector expenditure reached Rs23.6 billion in 2025-26, while Rs30.8 billion had been allocated for 2026-27.
However, approximately 85 percent of the budget is spent on salaries, leaving limited funds for medicines, hospital beds, laboratory supplies, and other essential non-salary requirements.
The meeting expressed concern over medicine availability and stock management. Officials revealed that only Rs45 million had been spent on medicines during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, despite the release of Rs666 million for the purpose.
Commissioner Iqbal Hussain Bacha directed all deputy commissioners to hold follow-up meetings with district health officers and relevant officials to review the situation. He ordered regular scrutiny of records concerning medicines, medical supplies, and other expenditures.
He also instructed authorities to audit hospital records through District Accounts Officers and take appropriate action in cases of financial irregularities or negligence.
The meeting further decided to compile data on all health sector procurements across the division and submit it to the relevant authorities. IMU officials will attend every divisional health review meeting in person and share photographic evidence of their field visits in the designated WhatsApp group daily.
The commissioner also ordered an assessment of the availability and operational condition of medical machinery at District Headquarters Hospital Batkhela, particularly equipment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU).
Additionally, all deputy commissioners were directed to personally supervise preparations for the fiscal year 2027-28 health budget, ensuring that the actual needs of healthcare facilities are reflected in budget planning.
The meeting instructed all concerned officials to implement the decisions within the prescribed timeframe and submit compliance reports to the Office of the Commissioner Malakand Division. Progress will be reviewed at the next Divisional Health Review Meeting.