No arrests: No leads in stents scam

Allegations erupted after certainty of medical malpractice

LAHORE: Even 10 days after FIA unearned the stent scandal, the Quality Control Board (PQCB) and the investigative agency have been unable to pinpoint the main culprits, The Express Tribune has learnt on Wednesday.

An official of the inquiry committee formed by the chief minister clarified that a probe has been conducted into the involvement of some influential people in hospitals and the health department.

“Through smuggling of these unregistered items, billions of rupees of tax had been evaded. We are also certain there was medical malpractice involved when a large number of stents were placed in them,” he said.

Meanwhile, DRAP Chief Executive Dr Aslam Afghani told The Express Tribune that the authority has concluded its investigation and started an inquiry in Karachi.

“We have conducted interviews with medical superintendents, cardiology professors, administrators and pharmaceutical companies and noted the culprits involved,” he said.

The chief executive said DRAP lacks the authority to arrest any of the suspects and PQCB and FIA will act after its report.

Provincial Quality Control Board (PQCB) Chairman Saeed Abid, who is responsible for taking action and registering cases against the culprits, told The Express Tribune that the FIA and DRAP had not submitted a single report on the case to them.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2017.