Karachi:
Professor Tahir Saghir, executive director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), has denied accusations of financial irregularities, claiming that the Institute operates with full transparency and a commitment to the public service.
In statements to the Express PAkGazette, Professor Saghir said that NICVD provides free treatment to more than 2,000 patients daily, including 35-40 emergency angioplasties, along with 1,000-1,200 emergency cases and 800-1,000 OPD visits. “This is a high volume center, and our teams work day and night to serve patients,” he added.
On corruption positions, Professor Saghir clarified that NICVD suffers government and private audits annually. While auditing objections are routine, he said that all consultations are answered with detailed explanations.
He highlighted the acquisition reforms, saying that only 20-30% of medical supplies were acquired through tenders, while now more than 90% of purchases are processed through the digital system of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority of Sindh (SPPRA), minimizing human intervention. “These data are also shared with international organizations, including the IMF,” he added.
Refuting a Human Rights Report that alleges RS40 billion in corruption, Professor Saghir said that NICVD’s total annual budget is only RS9 billion. “Where did the additional 31 billion come from? However, surgeries and medications remained uninterrupted,” he questioned, qualifying the unfounded and malicious accusations.
He cited the government’s government recognition of the Institute’s performance, which led to an increase in the budget after Nicvd saved RS1 billion last year, followed by an additional allocation of RS2 billion.
Professor Saghir provided an example of emergency decision-making, explaining that when the main air conditioning unit in the emergency room Falló, the administration hired temporary cooling systems for RS200,000-250,000 to guarantee the patient’s comfort, without going through long bidding procedures.
