Distrust in PIC forcing patients towards expensive options

Recent blunder has affectees worried, depressed, and fuming at the system

LAHORE:

Distrust in the country’s most populous province’s public healthcare system has come at an unfortunate time given its struggles in controlling the super spreader.

The provincial capital’s residents are reeling in shock, hence the distrust, as the administration of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) is yet to come to a conclusion on the issue of implanting expired stents in patients.

Mazhar, who is a government employee and resident of Lahore, had planned to undergo treatment at PIC before the story broke. “I had to get a stent, but I no longer have confidence in PIC. Now I need more money so that I can get better treatment from elsewhere,” he informed the Express Tribune.

Sharing Mazhar’s sentiments, a patient, on the condition of anonymity, told the Express Tribune that he had recently had a minor surgery to get stents at PIC but was now regretting it. “I am just worried that the greedy doctors might have put fake and substandard stents in me,” he said.

Whether he is amongst the unlucky ones is up to chance as according to the PIC it has identified 17 patients who got expired stents. A committee was formed in this regard to trace and contact the patients who have been implanted at the institute.

The whole scandal was avoidable as various sources told the Express Tribune that the management of the hospital was informed about the expired stents by the doctors of the hospital, but no attention was paid to it. According to the sources, the Chief Pharmacist and the concerned officers brought the stents to patients despite the doctor’s indication.

In addition, despite several notices being issued by the former Medical Superintendent (MS) to the company providing the stents, the expired stents were not returned, and dozens of stents of Resolute Annex were still in the hospital store, which are now being seized and investigated after the news broke.

Dr Bilal Zakaria, the former head of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, expressed his disappointment in the institute while talking to the Express Tribune. “It is very negligent that expired stents have been implanted in patients as this exposes them to possibly more pain and potentially puts their life in danger.” Zakria was in favor of the PIC’s current strategy of identifying and following up with the affectees, as according to him this would prevent further harm and ensure timely treatment,if needed.

The PIC’s blunder has, however, made a positive impact on private cardiology institutes. A senior doctor at PIC, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that due to the distrust, the rush and pressure from PIC has largely subsided as people are opting for private hospitals instead of coming to PIC. “Private institutes are robbing people as they have no cheaper alternative now. Doctors at these institutes are making in Rs. 80,000 to 100,000 as commission whereas at PIC they could only make about Rs. 5,000,” he added.

Some distressed patients who recently got stents at PIC, when approached by the Express Tribune, declined to comment citing a state of depression and worry. However, a couple of them, visibly angry and frustrated, said that the doctors keep saying that this is not a big deal because the stents implanted were only a few days over dated. “We just want to ask the doctors whether they would have had the same thoughts if any of the expired stents had been implanted in their hearts,” they inquired from the Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2021.