PHC ORDER: ‘All hospitals must provide life-saving medicines’

Health department will adopt a policy of public-private partnership to ensure speedy medical coverage, says Dr Khan.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday ordered that life-saving medicines must be available at all hospitals so patients can get timely treatment in emergencies.

Hearing a suo motu notice, a PHC division bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Irshad Qaisar was informed by the director general of health services, Dr Sharif Ahmad Khan, that the health department will adopt a policy of public-private partnership to ensure speedy medical coverage.

To curb the supply of substandard medicines, the health department is becoming more cautious and has increased the number of vigilance committees, which include journalists and lawyers.

These committees will pay surprise visits to health centres and submit reports to the health department. Subsequent action will be taken against those involved in supplying substandard medicines.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2012.