Arogya Times
Nepal’s Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against eight individuals, including Deepa Dhungana, Pharmacy Unit In-charge and Pharmacy Officer at the Civil Service Hospital, seeking recovery of Rs 21.1 million in damages.
According to the anti-graft body, the accused failed to return expired and near-expiry medicines to the supplying pharmaceutical companies as required under contractual agreements, resulting in the loss and misuse of public property.
The CIAA said agreements between the hospital and pharmaceutical suppliers required expired or near-expiry medicines to be returned to the respective companies. However, the medicines were not returned, causing financial loss to the state.
The investigation was launched following complaints alleging that expired medicines worth millions of rupees had been left abandoned in the hospital’s storage area and stairways. The complaints also claimed that while the medicines continued to appear in the hospital’s computerized inventory system, they were physically missing.
Following its investigation, the CIAA found sufficient evidence of irregularities and filed charges against Dhungana and seven others.
The Commission has charged the defendants under Section 17 of the Corruption Prevention Act, 2002 (2059 BS), claiming damages of Rs 21,136,547.37. It has sought recovery of the full amount, an equivalent fine, and imprisonment for those found guilty.
Arogya Times
