ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Tuesday ordered an investigation into alleged financial mismanagement and corruption at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) after it was revealed that a failed liver transplant was performed at the hospital for the price of Rs480 million.

The parliamentary committee observed that the management of the hospital was more interested in its Rs4 billion annualbudget than in serving humanity.

The committee met for a briefing regarding the employees working at Pims on deputation. The discussion then veered towards alleged mismanagement and corruption in the hospital`s top management.

The discussion started when Pims Children`s Hospital Joint Executive Director Dr Raja Amjad claimed that financial mismanagement was very common at Pims.

`A failed liver transplant was performed for Rs480 million. Expensive equipment for breast cancer treatment has been stolen and the hospital`s vehicles now include confiscated Land Cruisers bought from Customs,` he said.

Pims Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram admitted that the transplant was a failure and that a machine worth Rs3.6 million was stolen.

`But the hospital was in need of vehicles, which were purchased from the Customs confiscated lot. They are being used as ambulances and for securitypatrolling,` he added.

The meeting was also told about how the wrong people in terms of qualifications were appointed on various positions.

`In order to solve the problems in Pims, it is very important that the right people with the relevant expertise are appointed at the right departments,` said Pims Administrator Dr Altaf Shah.

`It all mal
Other members of the committee agreed with the chairman and Senator Mir Mohammad Yousaf Badini said: `The problems at Pims cannot be solved until corrupt officials are punished`.

When discussing the issue of officials working at Pims on deputation, the committee was told that 20 doctors were beingrepatriated to their parent departments following Supreme Court orders and that many doctors were resisting their repatriations.

The committee was told that Pims management had set up committees to finalise a list of doctors who were likely to be repatriated.

Pims PD Director Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Raja Amjad said they were also being wrongly repatriated and have challenged it.

`The committee is discriminatory,` Dr Amjad said, to which Dr Javed Akram said that the Pims management was being as fair as possible.

`We have some of the best doctors, who Pims will hate to lose. But Supreme Court orders have to be followed. Legal experts are part of the committee which is examining the doctors` cases. All the rules will be followed when repatriating doctors. I have directed the committee to give every person afair chance to present their point of view,` he said.