House panel probes Afghan hospital

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WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- U.S. congressional and military officials are investigating whether conditions at Dawood National Military Hospital in Afghanistan were covered up.

Congressional investigators said the U.S. government spent at least $180 million during a nine-year period at Dawood National Military Hospital, where the U.S. military alleged injured Afghan soldiers died from simple infections and that some patients were starved to death by medical personnel who were demanding bribes, CBS News reported Monday.

U.S. officials started documenting the corruption as far back as 2006, and included instances of pharmaceuticals being stolen and counterfeit medicine being used on Afghan soldiers. By 2010, military officials at the facility began documenting the presence of maggots on open wounds, patients being starved for weeks, surgery performed without sedation and bedsores so severe that bones were exposed.

Several military whistle-blowers told congressional investigators some high-ranking military officials acted to delay investigations in 2010 because it could be politically embarrassing, CNN reported.

The House Oversight Committee meets Tuesday to take testimony in the matter. Among those scheduled to testify is Schulyer Geller, the former command surgeon for the NATO Training Mission, who is expected to testify about the alleged expanse of corruption in Afghanistan he maintained U.S. officials didn't effectively penetrate.

A Pentagon spokesman told CBS News Monday strong and effective actions were taken to correct the alleged problems.

"Since a leadership change was made at the hospital, strong corrective actions have been taken to improve safety, patient care, and logistics and supply management," the spokesman said, adding advisers "continue to monitor the conditions at the hospital and work with Afghan National Security Forces to ensure progress continues."