Daily Times

The Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology has purchased injections for patients at an exorbitant price. It has been revealed that an additional amount of Rs 6.5 million was paid to a medicine company for Contrast injection, according to the documents available with Daily Times.

By buying the injections at double the price, the private medicine company made a profit of Rs 6.5 million. The administration of the FIC purchased 50 ml injection Contrast at a price of Rs 2500 per piece while 100 ml injection at Rs 4000 per piece. A 50 ml Contrast injection is available at a wholesale rate of Rs 1000 in the market but the FIC bought it for Rs 2500.

Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology Medical Superintendent Dr Zafar Baloch told Daily Times that the said medicines were procured through a tender process. Only one Karachi-based medicine company participated in the tender for Contrast injection and hence the injection was bought from that company. “We bought the injection from a company last year also, but several medicine companies had participated in the tender then and the medicines were bought at a competitive price. However, this year only one company named SiTech Pharmaceuticals participated and tender was awarded to that company. There was no competition in the tender pro9cess,” he added.

The MS said that different brands are available in the market with the same salt and are used during angiography. The issue of medicines procured at high prices has been discussed in the board meeting. The matter of buying medicines at almost double price is being investigated.