Pakistan's health ministry has scrapped a disputed vaccine tender for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims after finding that procurement rules were not followed, according to reports. The decision follows a prime ministerial inquiry into Border Health Services (BHS) Pakistan's purchase of meningococcal and influenza vaccines, after three BHS officials were arrested by the FIA.

Why the tender was scrapped

A health ministry official said Public Private Partnership Authority rules should have applied to the contract rather than standard public procurement rules. The prime minister's inquiry committee had earlier recommended cancelling the procurement and starting again, after finding that requirements for the tender, prices and financial arrangements had not been met. Pilgrims will, in the meantime, secure their mandatory vaccinations directly through travel agents until a replacement tender is issued, the ministry has instructed.

The wider probe

The affair has two related but distinct pricing questions, and they should not be conflated. In the FIA case, investigators allege a five-year contract went to a single bidder without a market survey or price comparison, at Rs3,475 per complete vaccination against a combined maximum retail price of Rs2,660 notified by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP); the FIA estimates the gap could mean about Rs2.445 billion in excess spending over the contract — an investigators' projection, not a loss established by a court.

What it means for pilgrims

Separately, a health ministry committee is examining how a meningitis vaccine approved by DRAP at Rs1,356 was supplied to the religious affairs ministry at Rs2,555, and must report by 29 October. The new tender is intended to restore federal oversight. The allegations against the arrested officials remain under investigation and have not been established by a final court decision.

Sources: The News (inquiry panel), The News (ministry probe), Dawn (via republication).