Srinagar, May 16: Acting on a preliminary inquiry report, the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir Monday launched a probe into the alleged funds scandal at the Sub-District Hospital in south Kashmir’s Shopian district while shifting two officials, including the Medical Superintendent, on charges of “financial irregularities.”
Informed sources disclosed to Greater Kashmir that the Medical Superintendent of SDH Shopian Abdul Gani Ahangar and a Senior Assistant Nisar Ahmad were transferred to ‘far-off places’ after the preliminary inquiry found them guilty of “minting money through illegal means and misappropriating the hospital funds.”
On Monday, the Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman ordered a full-fledged inquiry to go through the alleged scam worth lakhs of rupees. The fresh inquiry, they said, has also been instituted in the wake of frequent complaints that the two officials were “pocketing the money they took from the patients on account of conducting USGs in the hospital.”
“A preliminary inquiry was ordered sometime back to probe the complaints.
The panel comprising of the Chief Accounts Officer at the DHS, Riyaz Ahmad and Nodal Officer, National Rural Health Mission, Dr Musthaq raided the SDH recently and found the Medical Superintendent and the Senior Assistant taking money in the hospital USG room,” the sources disclosed.
A cursory look at the official documents there, the sources said, revealed “gross financial irregularities” in the Hospital Development Fund (HDF)—derived from poor patients on account of entry tickets or examinations done in the hospital.
“In the last financial year the SDH has shown an expenditure of Rs 22,46,847 under the HDF when the revenue collected has been just Rs 18,23,785,” the sources said.
The DHS has now ordered the full-dressed inquiry to be again headed by the Chief Accounts Officer, Riyaz Ahmad. The probe panel has been asked to submit its report within 15 days along with the recommendations.
In the meantime, the accused Medical Superintendent has been shifted to Primary Health Centre Sangarwani, Islamabad (Anantnag) while the Senior Assistant has been transferred to Block Hajin till further orders.
Confirming the institution of inquiry, a senior officer in DHS said the matter would be thoroughly investigated. “The probe panel comprises of six senior officials. Once they submit the final report, we shall act against the guilty officials in a stern manner,” the officer, wishing anonymity, told Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 IST