Rise in polio cases: LHC sends notice to federal government, NIH

Court seeks report from secretary health Punjab over petition seeking action against concerned authorities. ILLUSTRATION: TRIBUNE COMMON

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday sent notices to the federal government and the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, on a petition seeking action against people responsible for the rise in cases of polio.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan issued the notices following a petition filed by petitioner-counsel Noshab A Khan.

The petitioner-counsel had submitted that the number of polio cases were going down across the world, while the number in Pakistan was rising.

Referring to a report issued by the NIH, he said that a total of 137 polio cases were detected in Pakistan last year and it was observed that 107 patients, out of 137 cases, had been administered polio drops.

He submitted that either the anti-polio vaccine was defective or the affected patients were not administered the vaccine properly.

The petitioner pleaded the court to determine those who are responsible, and action be taken against them.

On Monday, the court after hearing arguments issued a notice to the federal government, NIH and sought a report from secretary health Punjab on latest statistics of polio cases.