Public health: More arguments sought on petition

Petitioner calls for one-window complaint service

LAHORE: Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday sought more arguments on the maintainability of a petition against poor public healthcare standards across the provincial metropolis.

Judge Malik was hearing a petition by citizen Liaquat Ali. The petitioner had told the court that underprivileged patients were not provided free medicines across public health facilities. He had alleged that doctors and other staff at such facilities compelled patients to frequent private establishments and pharmacies for commission. The petitioner had said that there was no medium which could be used to further complaints against doctors and other staff. He had told the court that it seemed that the Orange Line Metro Train project was being carried out at the expense of public health. The petitioner had requested the court to direct health officials to conduct surprise inspections across public health facilities to ensure that standards were maintained. He had also told the court that a one-window service ought to be established to ensure that citizens’ complaints were quickly addressed. He had said that those responsible across public hospital ought to be directed to ensure the provision of free medicines.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2016.