ISLAMABAD: After proving the charges of corruption in pharmacies, the administration of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has suspended three officials of the hospital. Daily Times has learnt those who were suspended including Pharmacist Shafqat Abbas and two dispensers Tassadaq Hussain and Niaz Khan as they were found involved in irregularities in the disbursement of medicines. The administration has strictly prohibited the entry of all private medical stores’ tout in the wards and cardiac centres of the hospitals, who visit there to sell medicines, syringes and other items. Documents available with Daily Times stated that the administration had formed a team comprising Dr Arshad Junjua, Dr Aneeza Jalil and Dr Aziz Bangash for surprise checks at the “Zakat” and “Baitul Mall” counters, which during their visit found various deficiencies. The team found that the drugs were being received without any warranty at the “Zakat” and “Baitul Mall” counters. The second thing they noticed was that the price lists of the medicines were not provided by the contractor. Moreover the substitute medicines , which were cheaper were being received at the “Zakat” and “Baitul Mall” counters. Furthermore the packs of medicines were being received without the official stamp of the PIMS, which is a severe violation of the contract according to the agreement. The administration decided to hold an inquiry into the matter by senior doctors, Professor Rana Imran Sikandar and Dr Syed Jamil Hussian Sherazi. The team held an inquiry against the above mentioned officials and found negligence on their part. The committee recommended the suspension of all the three staffers. The Administrator PIMS, Dr Altaf Hussain, told this scribe: “We will not bear any kind of corruption in the PIMS and all the wards and cardiac centres have been intimated through a written letter that if any tout of private medical stores would be found in the premises, severe action will be taken against him” He said that in this regard the administration has also directed the Ranger’s officials, deputed for security of thePIMS , to arrest the tout mafia. It is worth mentioning here that there are reports about the substitution of low cost medicines at the “Zakat” and Social welfare counters of the pharmacy department. The pharmacist and the staff were told to mend their ways on a number of occasions but in vain.