Interferon injection: PAC panel handling low-priced injection case dissolved
Sub-committee had asked for beginning the production process in its last meeting.
ISLAMABAD:
In a surprise move, Chairman Public Accounts Committee Nadeem Afzal Chan has dissolved a panel that was working to remove hurdles in the way of indigenous development of interferon injection to treat hepatitis C which is presumed to bring down the per unit cost to Rs70 from over Rs900.
In its last meeting, the sub-committee had directed immediate commencement of production process halted some years back and it had sought fortnightly monitoring report as well.
The panel also wanted to unmask those who had stopped the production a few years back. With the dissolution of the sub-committee, constituted to clear the audit backlog for the years of 2005-06 and 2006-07, the process of monitoring the progress on the research project is likely to be halted.
When contacted, Nadeem Chan confirmed that he had dissolved the committee.
He said the sub-committee had been constituted to clear the backlog in his absence. Chan said the matters pertaining to the years 2005-06 and 2006-07 now would be discussed in the main committee under his chairmanship.
According to experts, the chairman cannot constitute or dissolve a committee on its own and has to take members’ consent. Interestingly, this was the stance Chan took against his predecessor Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a letter written to the National Assembly speaker complaining that Khan as PAC chairman was forming the sub-committee without consent of the members.
Chan also confirmed that the PAC Secretariat has received a letter written by PTI leader Azam Swati alleging that Ms Yasmeen Rehman was trying to save the scientists who were facing corruption allegations.
It is alleged that Ms Rehman’s family is in the pharmaceutical business and Dr Riazuddin, the man who claims to have done the research leading to low cost indigenous development of hepatitis ‘C’ injections, was employed in a company owned by Ms Rehman’s brother.
Swati was approached for comment but his staff said he was busy in electioneering.
The sub-committee has already separated the two issues, the alleged corruption, if any, in the research and the research to develop the injection.
In yet another twist, the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf chairman Imran Khan has recently contacted the scientists in question and showed interest to carry the research at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital.
Khan has approached former Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College, Dr Javed Akram, and evinced interest in taking the injection manufacturing process to the logical end. Dr Akram said that Imran Khan had promised to contact him again after consulting head of the Shaukat Khanum Hospital who was abroad. He, however, said that the scientists wanted to keep the research apolitical. Dr Riazuddin, the team leader working on the interferon project, had worked for quite some time at the Allama Iqbal Medical College. His team had claimed to have completed the research work at the Centre for Molecular Biology but blamed certain forces for stopping work there.
The source said on the eve of the sub-committee meeting a call was reportedly made to the convener Ms Rehman, asking her to postpone the meeting as an intelligence agency had some concerns. Moreover, the other two members Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Mohammad Asif were also separately approached to allegedly influence their decision.
Sardar Ayaz said that he successfully handled the influential people by asking them to present their case in the committee meeting.
Nadeem Chan said that he had called Yasmeen Rehman on the eve of the committee meeting and only asked her to take decision on merit.
When contacted Rehman said if anyone has complaints against her, he should go to court of law or even can contact any agency. Miss Rehman said she has not yet received a notification for dissolution of the sub-committee but the PAC chairman has verbally informed her.
“I am fighting for the cause of the people who have been deprived of their basic rights of enjoying healthy life by availing affordable treatment,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2012.
In a surprise move, Chairman Public Accounts Committee Nadeem Afzal Chan has dissolved a panel that was working to remove hurdles in the way of indigenous development of interferon injection to treat hepatitis C which is presumed to bring down the per unit cost to Rs70 from over Rs900.
In its last meeting, the sub-committee had directed immediate commencement of production process halted some years back and it had sought fortnightly monitoring report as well.
The panel also wanted to unmask those who had stopped the production a few years back. With the dissolution of the sub-committee, constituted to clear the audit backlog for the years of 2005-06 and 2006-07, the process of monitoring the progress on the research project is likely to be halted.
When contacted, Nadeem Chan confirmed that he had dissolved the committee.
He said the sub-committee had been constituted to clear the backlog in his absence. Chan said the matters pertaining to the years 2005-06 and 2006-07 now would be discussed in the main committee under his chairmanship.
According to experts, the chairman cannot constitute or dissolve a committee on its own and has to take members’ consent. Interestingly, this was the stance Chan took against his predecessor Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a letter written to the National Assembly speaker complaining that Khan as PAC chairman was forming the sub-committee without consent of the members.
Chan also confirmed that the PAC Secretariat has received a letter written by PTI leader Azam Swati alleging that Ms Yasmeen Rehman was trying to save the scientists who were facing corruption allegations.
It is alleged that Ms Rehman’s family is in the pharmaceutical business and Dr Riazuddin, the man who claims to have done the research leading to low cost indigenous development of hepatitis ‘C’ injections, was employed in a company owned by Ms Rehman’s brother.
Swati was approached for comment but his staff said he was busy in electioneering.
The sub-committee has already separated the two issues, the alleged corruption, if any, in the research and the research to develop the injection.
In yet another twist, the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf chairman Imran Khan has recently contacted the scientists in question and showed interest to carry the research at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital.
Khan has approached former Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College, Dr Javed Akram, and evinced interest in taking the injection manufacturing process to the logical end. Dr Akram said that Imran Khan had promised to contact him again after consulting head of the Shaukat Khanum Hospital who was abroad. He, however, said that the scientists wanted to keep the research apolitical. Dr Riazuddin, the team leader working on the interferon project, had worked for quite some time at the Allama Iqbal Medical College. His team had claimed to have completed the research work at the Centre for Molecular Biology but blamed certain forces for stopping work there.
The source said on the eve of the sub-committee meeting a call was reportedly made to the convener Ms Rehman, asking her to postpone the meeting as an intelligence agency had some concerns. Moreover, the other two members Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Mohammad Asif were also separately approached to allegedly influence their decision.
Sardar Ayaz said that he successfully handled the influential people by asking them to present their case in the committee meeting.
Nadeem Chan said that he had called Yasmeen Rehman on the eve of the committee meeting and only asked her to take decision on merit.
When contacted Rehman said if anyone has complaints against her, he should go to court of law or even can contact any agency. Miss Rehman said she has not yet received a notification for dissolution of the sub-committee but the PAC chairman has verbally informed her.
“I am fighting for the cause of the people who have been deprived of their basic rights of enjoying healthy life by availing affordable treatment,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2012.