Govt Changes Mandatory Vaccination Process for Overseas Travellers - ProPakistani

The Ministry of National Health Services plans to invite fresh tenders within a month to procure meningococcal meningitis and influenza vaccines required for overseas travelers after scrapping the existing vaccination system operated by Border Health Services (BHS).

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an inquiry into BHS after allegations of serious procedural flaws and financial irregularities emerged in a public-private partnership contract the department had awarded.

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed that the government had suspended the existing vaccination process for religious pilgrims and Pakistanis travelling abroad for employment. He said officials had also arrested BHS officers who issued the tender without the ministry’s approval.

The ministry has directed pilgrims to arrange their mandatory vaccinations through their travel agents until its central procurement committee issues a new tender and establishes a replacement system.

The inquiry followed allegations that the new contract increased the vaccination cost to around Rs. 4,500 per pilgrim, compared with approximately Rs. 1,250 per dose under the previous arrangement.

Meanwhile, seven companies have approached the Islamabad High Court to challenge alleged irregularities in the bidding process.

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