ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, has ordered an inquiry into financial irregularities in the Expanded Programme Immunisation (EPI), official sources told Business Recorder. The project EPI is aimed at preventing nine Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) including Childhood Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis-Homophiles Influenza Type-B, Measles and Pneumonia.
According to sources PC-I (revised) was approved by the ECNEC on May 26, 2011 at a cost of Rs 24.983 billion including FEC of Rs 14.195 billion for a period of three years (2009-2012). Subsequently, the project was granted an extension three times of three years up to June 30, 2015 without any cost implications. However, the PC-I had to be re-revised because of accrual of additional demand of vaccines with additional cost amounting to Rs 1.958 billion; funding obligations of GoP was (7 percent) against 93 percent shares of GAVI, an international partner in the project, for vaccine procurement (Pneumococcal and Pentavalent vaccine) and procurement of buffer stock of other vaccines to avoid shortfalls in emergency.
The PC-I covers the additional requirements of Rs 1.958 billion over the approved cost for procurement of vaccines, and syringes etc till June 2015 and buffer stock till December 2015.
The sources said, CDWP in its meeting held on April 22, 2015 considered and recommended the project to the ECNEC to avoid shortfall of vaccines for immunisation of children and pregnant women, but with certain observations.
Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Co-ordination submitted the PC-I for consideration of ECNEC at a total cost of Rs 26.942 billion with FEC of Rs 14.195 billion, with the recommendation that an independent inquiry may be initiated to investigate the irregularities committed in the expenditures and variations in scope in excess of the approved cost and scope of the project and other irregularities and fix responsibility.
ECNEC in its meeting on May 13, presided over by Finance Minister approved the project at a total cost of Rs 26.942 billion with FEC of Rs 14.195 billion and directed that an inquiry should be held jointly by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & Co-ordination, the Planning Development and Reforms Division, the Prime Minister Inspection Commission and the World Health Organisation to investigate irregularities committed in the expenditures and variations in scope in excess of the approved cost and scope of the project and other irregularities and fix responsibility.
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