More shocking details of KP medicine scandal come to light

PESHAWAR: More shocking details of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) medicine scandal have come to light.

A comparison of only 26 medicines and medical supplies out of 800 items revealed huge damage to the national exchequer — the total losses to the provincial government amount to approximately Rs3.138 billion for just these 26 items.

The KP government’s fact-finding committee has already declared this a case of mis-procurement, prompting Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to order a high-level investigation.

An official from the Health Department explained that the department conducts a framework agreement for medicines and equipment annually. Medicines and medical devices are selected through an open competitive process, in accordance with the law, where various firms participate in the process managed by the Medicine Coordination Cell (MCC). Approximately 800 items are selected on a per-unit basis, and all health purchasing entities are legally bound to place their supply orders with the respective firms based on their functional requirements and budgetary allocations. He said the overall impact was high due to the devaluation of Pak currency and high inflation.

A comparison of the prices of medicines and medical devices for FY2022-23 and 2023-24, procured by different purchasing entities including all district-level hospitals and other institutions during the last year is as under. The 2022-23 old prices of I/V Cannula (Sterile having wings + injection port in sterilized blister packing. The Cannula should be radio-opaque, as well as latex, pyrogen, and PVC free) 20G was fixed at Rs56.5 in 2022-23, but the Health Department fixed the new price at Rs145, an increase of Rs88.5 in 2023-24. The overall impact on the national exchequer is around Rs64.632 million on one item.

Another item, I/V Cannula (Sterile having wings + injection port in sterilized blister packing. The Cannula should be radio-opaque, as well as latex, pyrogen, and PVC free) 22G, had a previous rate of Rs56.5 in 2022-23 and now the new rate was fixed at Rs145 in 2023-24, with a difference of Rs88.5. The total loss to the national exchequer was Rs120.837 million. For I/V Cannula Sterile having wings + injection port with heparin stopper inside sterilized blister packing. The Cannula should be radio-opaque, as well as latex, pyrogen and PVC free) 24G, the previous rate was Rs84.5 and the new price was fixed at Rs176, resulting in a total difference of Rs149.639 million.

Disposable Auto Disable Syringe (Blister packing) sterile 5ml had a previous rate of Rs9.92, and the new rate was fixed at Rs13.49, with a difference of Rs3.57. The total cost increase was Rs66.144 million.

Cotton (Surgical) Corded BPC Roll 200gm had a previous rate of Rs127, and the new rate is Rs290, with a difference of Rs163. The loss to the national exchequer is around Rs76.531 million.

Cotton (surgical) Corded BPC Roll 100gm had a previous rate of Rs65.2, and the new rate was fixed at Rs155, with a difference of Rs89.8. The total burden on the exchequer was Rs17.115 million.

I.V. Fluid administration Set, sterile and pyrogen-free, minimum 150cm tube length, blister pack Uniset, had a previous rate of Rs21.89, and the new rate was fixed at Rs39.79, with a difference of Rs17.9. The total extra burden on the exchequer was Rs120.703 million.

Ceftriaxone Inj. 500 mg +WFI Zeftrox had a previous rate of Rs51, and the new rate was fixed at Rs85.99, with a difference of Rs34.99. The total burden was Rs29.999 million.

Ceftriaxone Inj. 1gm+WFI Ranicef had a previous rate of Rs82, and the new rate was fixed at Rs204.99, with a difference of Rs122.99. The total enhanced cost was Rs222.273 million.

Similarly, Ceftriaxone Inj. 2gm+WFI Ranicef had an old rate of Rs143, and the new rate was Rs349.65, with a difference of Rs206.65. The total extra burden was Rs101.882 million.

Oxygen Mask Adult Ecolite Adult Oxygen Mask had a previous rate of Rs93, and the new rate was fixed at Rs2,439.99, with a difference of Rs2,346.99. The total extra burden was Rs134.529 million.

Purified Vero Cell Rabies Vaccines (PVRV) Inj. Rabio had a previous rate fixed at Rs664.74, and the new rate was fixed at Rs2,000, with a difference of Rs1,335.26. The extra cost borne by the province is around Rs118.094 million.

Crepe Bandages BPC 15cm x 4.5m Surgee crepe had a previous rate of Rs98, and the new rate was fixed at Rs272, with a difference of Rs174. The additional amount paid by the government was Rs66.109 million.

Disposable Non-Sterile Latex Examination Gloves (Powdered), Small, Medium, Large, Nazcare/Box of 100 gloves had a previous rate of Rs975, but the new rate was fixed at Rs2,040, with a difference of Rs1,065. The total impact on the exchequer was Rs341.439 million. Omeprazole Inj. 40mg+WFI Acichek had a previous price of Rs39.75, but the new price was fixed at Rs145, with a difference of Rs105.25. The additional cost was Rs58.020 million.

Meropenem Inj. 500 mg/Vial +WFI Merem had a previous rate of Rs273, but the new price was fixed at Rs574.53, with a difference of Rs301.53. The total additional amount was Rs37.254 million. Meropenem Inj. 1000 mg/Vial +WFI Merostin had an old price of Rs468, which was replaced with Rs900.35, with a difference of Rs432.35. The total losses were around Rs66.444 million.

Paracetamol Inf. 1gm/100ml Inf. Bofalgan 1000mg/100ml had an old rate of Rs79.41, and now the new rate was fixed at Rs145, with a difference of Rs65.59. The loss to the national exchequer was Rs88.294 million.

Ciprofloxacin Inf. 200mg/100ml Stericipro had an old rate of Rs43.68, and the new rate was fixed at Rs175.2, with a difference of Rs131.52. The total loss to the national exchequer was around Rs68.724 million. Normal Saline 0.9 percent 500ml Sterifluid NS had a previous rate of Rs42.53, and the new rate is Rs79.90, with a difference of Rs37.37. The total loss to the exchequer is Rs57.167 million.

Ringer’s Lactate + Dextrose 5 percent Soln 500ml Sterifluid RLD had a previous rate of Rs48.28, and the new rate was Rs94.90, with a difference of Rs46.62. The total loss was Rs28.047 million.

Ringer’s Lactate Soln 500ml Sterifluid RL had a previous rate of Rs41.38, while the new rate was fixed at Rs89.90, with a difference of Rs48.52. The total losses are Rs107.967 million.

Ringer’s Lactate Soln 1000ml Sterifluid RL had a previous rate of Rs60.92, and now the new rate was fixed at Rs110.80, with a difference of Rs49.88. The total loss to the exchequer was Rs45.667 million. Cotton Bandages (Surgical) B.P Type II 6.5cm x 4m had a previous rate of Rs15.45, and the new rate was Rs438.00, with a difference of Rs422.55. The additional amount paid was around Rs93.749 million.

Gauze Cloth Roll packing 100cm x 20m had a previous year rate of Rs625, the new rate is Rs1,375.00, with a difference of Rs750.00. The loss to the national exchequer is around Rs58.493 million.

Gauze Cloth Roll packing 100cm x 40m had a previous rate of Rs1,266, and now the new rate was fixed at Rs2,710.00, with a difference of Rs444.00. The loss to the exchequer was Rs74.632 million. Sterile Gauze dressing Pad BPC 10cm x 10cm, 8-ply had a previous rate of Rs3.85, and now the new rate was fixed at Rs770.00, with a difference of Rs766.15. The additional burden on the exchequer was Rs800.565 million.