LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court on Monday was told that the names of the owners of the pharmaceutical company Efroze Chemicals Ltd, involved in the faulty medicine debacle, had been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
A report submitted on behalf of the Punjab health secretary was placed before Justice Umar Ata Bandial elucidating the efforts made by the government in the aftermath of the medical disaster that left over a 100 dead.
In his report, the health secretary revealed that up to February 3, 2012, out of 890 affected patients, 315 were undergoing treatment in various hospitals, 369 had been discharged after complete recovery, while 107 had died.
The high court bench was told that the use of five suspected medicines was suspended immediately at all teaching and DHQ hospitals. The matter was also placed before the Provincial Quality Control Board (PQCB) and the federal government suspended all available stock of the suspected medicines from manufacturing companies, cancelling their licenses.
The health secretary further revealed that the Punjab government had formally requested Sindh chief secretary and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general to take necessary legal action against Efroze Chemicals including sealing of their production premises.
He said the Supreme Court also took suo motu notice of the issue and a comprehensive report had been submitted there.
Justice Bandial, after going through the report, adjourned the hearing till February 13 and directed the Punjab health department to file a comprehensive report about the remedial steps being taken to provide relief to the affected patients.
Compensation
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association (PPMA) announced the provision of jobs for two persons from each family that has lost a member to fake medicines used in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), Lahore. According to a press release, PPMA Chairman Mohammad Asad said that in order to share the miseries and sorrows with the bereaved families, the PPMA has decided to provide jobs to two persons from each victim family and these jobs would be provided as per their qualifications.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2012.
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