Flouting orders: PHC summons officials to explain health policy

Says guidelines suggested by the court not fully implemented.

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has summoned high-ranking health officials for violating orders to form a health policy in light of the guidelines issued by the court.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) director general health services, secretary health, special secretary health and chief executives of the city’s three major hospitals have to appear in court on March 13.

A division bench headed by PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and comprising Justice Irshad Qaisar issued the orders on Tuesday while hearing a suo motu notice case on the supply of substandard medicines to prison hospitals.

The court had earlier asked the government to form a health policy to be approved by the provincial assembly. It also asked officials to propose changes and table their ideas in the assembly.



The guidelines provided by the court included a service structure for paramedical staff and nurses, a promotion policy, rules for purchase of medicines, testing equipment before purchase and three years of initial service of doctors in their hometown, among others.

Justice Khan observed a comprehensive health policy was drafted, but not taken seriously. “We will not allow anyone to play with the lives of citizens,” he added.



The bench noted that many omissions were made from their suggested copy while tabling the policy in the assembly, and only policies that suited the authorities were adopted.

Later, the bench ordered concerned officials to either appear in person before the court on the said date or file a written reply attached with guidelines and judgments of all five hearings held so far. The case was then adjourned till March 13.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2013.