PHC summons health commission chairman

Despite orders from the PHC, uniform fees for doctors and rates for laboratory tests have not been established.

PESHAWAR:

Despite clear orders from the Peshawar High Court, uniform fees for doctors and rates for laboratory tests in both public and private hospitals/clinics across the province have not been established. The court has now summoned the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Healthcare Commission chairman to appear at the next hearing. A two-member bench, consisting of Justices Ejaz Anwar and Syed Arshad Ali, heard a contempt of court petition filed by Advocate Saifullah Mohib Kakakhel.

According to the petitioner's lawyer, they had filed a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court on the lack of uniformity in the fees of doctors and laboratory test rates in private hospitals and clinics. In 2020, the court had ruled in their favor, instructing the relevant authorities to set uniform rates for laboratory tests. However, no action was taken to implement this ruling, prompting the filing of a contempt of court petition. The defendants responded by stating that the Healthcare Commission had submitted its recommendations, which would be presented for approval in a provincial cabinet meeting.

The petitioner's lawyer further stated that, to date, no practical steps have been taken, and no official policy has been introduced. The court had also previously ordered uniform rates for dengue tests in another case.