Criminal practices in health dept

Corruption seems to have infested every aspect of human activity in Pakistani society, and worst hit with frightening future implications are the health and education sectors. Recent interventions by the Supreme Court in the state of affairs of public-sector hospitals are a clear indication of the deteriorating conditions and standards in the health sector.

This newspaper in January 2017 reported a scandal, unearthed by the Federal Investigation Agency, relating to procurement and provision of stents at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital. According to initial findings, the vendors or suppliers, management of the hospitals and officials of the Punjab health department were hand in glove in this business of unregistered and low-quality stents. But hardly any action was taken on this scandal and the whole matter seems to have been hushed up.

Now there is another report which reveals that no less than eight specialised cardiological facilities in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad have been found involved in purchasing bulk quantities, far more than their requirements, of registered and unregistered stents at exorbitant rates. It may be recalled that cardiac patients were earlier being charged Rs3,15,000 per stent and it was at the intervention of the Supreme Court that the cost was brought down to Rs100,000 per stent. There are definitely flaws or shortcomings in the regulatory mechanism for the procurement, quality and determination of the cost of stents.

It is the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) that is responsible for approving particular brands, specifications and quality of the stents and it is obligatory on the hospitals’ management and the health departments to follow the standards set by DRAP. There is some problem at the end of the customs department as well which, advertently or inadvertently, overlooks the import of unapproved and unregistered brands of stents. It is about time all relevant authorities sat together to evolve a proper mechanism to do away with these malpractices — at least in the health sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2018.

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