LHC questions govt over shortage of cardiac medicines

Petition says heart patients forced to buy drugs from market

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought a response from the Government of Punjab over the alleged shortage of life-saving medicines and medical facilities for heart patients in public hospitals across the province.

Justice Khalid Ishaq heard a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel through Advocate Azhar Siddique, which highlighted the lack of essential cardiac medicines and equipment in government hospitals.

During the hearing, the petitioner argued that several public hospitals are facing shortages of life-saving medicines and critical equipment required for cardiac procedures, forcing patients to purchase medicines and medical supplies from the open market despite significant public funds allocated for the healthcare sector.

The petition stated that the Punjab Institute of Cardiology receives up to 5,000 patients daily, yet essential medicines for heart diseases remain unavailable.

According to the plea, vital drugs for stent patients, including Ticagrelor, as well as medicines used in the treatment of heart failure, are not available at the institute.

The petitioner further submitted that facilities for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI)—a critical emergency procedure used to treat heart attack patients—are also inadequate, putting patients' lives at risk.

The petition alleged administrative mismanagement within the cardiology institute and the provincial health department, adding that several posts for specialist doctors remain vacant.

It also pointed out that initiatives such as pediatric cardiac surgery services and the "Clinic on Wheels" programme were announced but have not been fully implemented.