Hospital's owner doesn't necessarily have to be a doctor: SHC

The Sindh High Court directed on Wednesday the petitioner to collect the registration form for the relevant hospital from the Sindh Health Care Commission.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed heard a plea against the rejection of a hospital’s registration by the SHCC

Justice Mazhar observed that a hospital’s owner does not necessarily have to be a doctor. There are many hospitals owned by people who are not doctors themselves but they hire the best doctors for their facility, he remarked.

SHCC’s counsel maintained that there was no objection on the registration, but the required process of analysing the qualifications of the medical and paramedical staff was being carried out.

There is nothing wrong with SHCC verifying qualifications and eligibility of the medical professionals, observed Justice Mazhar.

The petitioner was directed to approach the SHCC for the registration form.

Tenders, irregularities

Separately, SHC issued notices to the Sindh livestock department secretary, director-general, provincial government and other relevant authorities over a plea pertaining to tenders issued for the purchase of equipment in the department.

The plea alleges that tenders for equipment and medicines for the provincial livestock department were issued to favoured companies.

Petitioner Sindh Livestock Deputy Director Habib Jamali's counsel stated before the court that tenders were issued to purchase equipment and medicines during the coronavirus lockdown. But they were issued to favoured companies, and the medicines did not have stickers approved by the provincial government, he maintained.

The counsel said that the department’s director-general dismissed the complaint pertaining to irregularities in the purchase of medicines and equipment within 24 hours of receiving it, instead of identifying elements involved.

The court issued notices to the department secretary and director-general and relevant authorities, seeking replies by October 6.