Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday directed the law officers of all provinces to provide details about machineries and other equipment installed at district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals and their status of functioning.

“We also direct the advocates general of the provinces to collect details from the chief executives of the hospitals as to the state of laboratories and the other equipment installed therein to show whether they are in functioning order or otherwise,” the top court said.

The court in its order, following the hearing of a suo motu notice on misappropriation in the supply of medicines as well as in the provision of gas to Polyclinic Hospital, further observed that the important aspects of health sector, including how the lifesaving drugs are dealt with and how the pharmacies in the hospitals are managed, need to be attended and enquired into.

“We would, thus, direct the law officers to collect data in this behalf of the hospitals at least in the capital and submit a detailed report before the next date of hearing,” the SC ruled.

A two-judge bench headed by acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took up a suo motu case pertaining to alleged gross corruption in supply of medicines and in the provision of oxygen and nitrogen gases to Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad.

During the course of the hearing, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) President Dr Arshad Rana told the court that the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) pays Rs 7,000 for refilling a 30kg nitrogen gas cylinder, while the administration of Polyclinic Hospital paid Rs 22,000 for the same gas.

He said that PIMS in the last three years paid different price for refilling gas cylinders. However, the Polyclinic Hospital paid a fixed price of Rs 22,000, while the price nitrogen gas varied in the last three years. He informed the court that Polyclinic Hospital had given Rs 30 million contract to a company – Crescent Traders and Business Developer. Another petitioner, Dr Aftab Ahmed, informed the court that when the SC took suo motu notice of the misappropriation, the hospital’s administration took a stay order from a civil court in Islamabad.

On this, Justice Saqib Nisar said if that was the case then they may refer this case to the National Accountability Bureau. He further observed that in Punjab’s hospitals there were no ventilators, stitching thread and other basic equipment. “It is the state’s responsibility to provide health facilities to its citizens,” he observed.

Advocate Nayyab Gardazi, appearing on behalf of the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), told the court that the committee in its report did not find any documentary evidence of misappropriation in the supply of medicines and in provision of gas to the hospital against Polyclinic Executive Director Dr Iftikhar Naru.

The two-member enquiry committee consisting of Dr Minhaj Siraj and Dr Mubarik was formed to probe the allegations against Dr Naru and his wife Rubina Iftikhar.

The bench noted that some data in compliance with the court order had been provided, but that appeared to be deficient on many counts. The picture painted in the reports appears to be rosier but the grave ground realities are to the contrary, the court said. “Some of the facts and figures appear to be fudged.”

Justice Saqib enquired about the state of laboratories in hospitals in the public sector, asking why they were out of order. In case they are in order, why their results do not conform to those of reputed laboratories established in the private sector, he asked.

“Doctors, like other professionals, have a right to add to their riches but not at the cost of the ailing humanity,” the court said.