Hepatitis vaccination: 6 deaths suspected by substandard injection
Court says if allegations are proven, accused officials will face murder charges.
Professor Dr Ghayasun Nabi Tayyab, vice president of the PSGE, said around one in 12 people had chronic viral hepatitis and was unaware of it.
PESHAWAR:
Supply of substandard injections may have claimed six lives, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) was told on Wednesday.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) department submitted a preliminary inquiry report to the court on the alleged supply of substandard interferon injections used for hepatitis treatment.
ACE Director Fayaz Ali Shah submitted the report to a division bench headed by PHC Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and comprising Justice Irshad Qaisar during a suo motu hearing. He sought additional time to inquire about the alleged deaths.
The bench was informed that the probe was launched in Abbottabad and a total of 60 deaths have been thoroughly examined out of which six are suspected to be caused by the substandard injections. More time is required because physical investigations are underway for further verification.
Shah said the injections had been declared substandard after being examined in a government laboratory. Advocate Mian Muhibullah Kakakhel requested the bench that the injections should be examined and verified from another laboratory.
ACE alleged that Ghulam Subhani, the project director for the hepatitis programme, is suspected to be involved in the supply of low-quality injections, adding the provincial chief secretary has been approached to approve registration of cases against the accused officials.
“The health secretary is the prime suspect in the scam and if proved, murder cases will be registered against all the accused,” observed CJ Khan, ordering Shah to continue the probe. The court directed all deputy commissioners, district police and health department officials to assist the investigation team.
The bench also issued show-cause notices to the health services director general and secretary health for violating the health act by transferring doctors to different posts.
The bench observed a health policy had been drafted by the court and health officials were directed to amend it if needed, but the policy was changed, not amended. Additional Advocate General Naveed Akhtar was directed to collect minutes of the cabinet and provincial assembly meetings in which the health policy was discussed along with the names of all those who attended.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2013.
Supply of substandard injections may have claimed six lives, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) was told on Wednesday.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) department submitted a preliminary inquiry report to the court on the alleged supply of substandard interferon injections used for hepatitis treatment.
ACE Director Fayaz Ali Shah submitted the report to a division bench headed by PHC Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and comprising Justice Irshad Qaisar during a suo motu hearing. He sought additional time to inquire about the alleged deaths.
The bench was informed that the probe was launched in Abbottabad and a total of 60 deaths have been thoroughly examined out of which six are suspected to be caused by the substandard injections. More time is required because physical investigations are underway for further verification.
Shah said the injections had been declared substandard after being examined in a government laboratory. Advocate Mian Muhibullah Kakakhel requested the bench that the injections should be examined and verified from another laboratory.
ACE alleged that Ghulam Subhani, the project director for the hepatitis programme, is suspected to be involved in the supply of low-quality injections, adding the provincial chief secretary has been approached to approve registration of cases against the accused officials.
“The health secretary is the prime suspect in the scam and if proved, murder cases will be registered against all the accused,” observed CJ Khan, ordering Shah to continue the probe. The court directed all deputy commissioners, district police and health department officials to assist the investigation team.
The bench also issued show-cause notices to the health services director general and secretary health for violating the health act by transferring doctors to different posts.
The bench observed a health policy had been drafted by the court and health officials were directed to amend it if needed, but the policy was changed, not amended. Additional Advocate General Naveed Akhtar was directed to collect minutes of the cabinet and provincial assembly meetings in which the health policy was discussed along with the names of all those who attended.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2013.