Fake medicines: Supreme Court takes suo motu notice

FIA orders release of MS of PIC Dr Saleem Jaffar, Young Doctors call off strike after negotiations.

LAHORE: The Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the fake medicines handed by Pakistan Institute of Cardiology (PIC) that has resulted in more than a 100 deaths in Punjab, reported Express News.

The case will be heard tomorrow (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, the death toll due to the medicine reached 114 on Monday as two more people died in the Services Hospital, Lahore.

The dead include 60-year-old Rahat and 75-year-old Haji Yaseen.

At least 400 people are currently under treatment in various hospitals of Lahore.

The PIC medicine triggered an unknown disease that is said to get deposited in the bone marrow and ultimately ends the body’s resistance. The generation of white blood cells stops in the body and a severe chest infection also takes place.

The symptoms of the disease include a change in complexion, low platelet count, vomiting blood and a severe chest infection.

YDA calls off strike after successful negotiations

Office bearers of the Young Doctor's Association on Monday called off the strike to protest the suspension of senior doctors after negotiations with the Punjab Health Department were successful.

The YDA had decided that in the first stage, they would observe a strike at out-patient departments of Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) and other public hospitals in Lahore.

A doctor working at the PIC had warned that if the doctors are not restored, UDA could go on a strike throughout the province.

There are around 250 to 300 doctors working at PIC and around 100 of them showed solidarity with the YDA’s decision.

FIA orders release of MS of PIC

The Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) ordered the release of MS of PIC Dr Saleem Jaffar in the fake medicine case, reported Express News.

Dr Jaffar was taken into custody on Sunday for his alleged involvement in the fake medicine which has caused the deaths of over a 100 people in Punjab.

The joint investigation team of the FIA, probing into the matter, released Jaffar on not finding sufficient proof against him.

The Lahore High Court, hearing the case today, said that a case of murder should be held against the people involved in the whole scenario.

The Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) has formed an investigation team which is probing the matter and has arrested the people allegedly involved in the distribution of the medicine.