Medical neglect in one form or the other is virtually a daily occurrence in the country. PHOTO: FILE
A local court on Saturday extended the remand of health officials arrested for allegedly supplying substandard interferon vials to government hospitals.
Director General (DG) Health Services Dr Sharif Ahmad Khan, former Hepatitis Control Programme Director Dr Ghulam Subhani and assistant junior clerk Mubarak Shah were arrested on Wednesday by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).
They have been accused of procuring 1.6 million substandard interferon vials worth Rs250 million for use in government run-hospitals. Interferon is a recognised pharmaceutical therapy for hepatitis B, C, cancer and multiple sclerosis.
On Thursday, the court of judicial magistrate Mohsin Abbas sent the implicated officials on a two-day remand. However, Sharif Khan was admitted to the Lady Reading Hospital’s Coronary Care Unit late Thursday night after he complained of heart problems.
On Saturday, Subhani and Shah were again produced before the court of Mohsin Abbas, who further extended their remand, handing them into ACE’s custody for two more days.
Meanwhile, Mian Muhibullah Kakakhel filed a bail application on behalf of Dr Sharif Ahmad Khan and Dr Ghulam Subhani before the court of District and Sessions Judge Shaibar Khan.
The counsel argued bail applications for both officials should be accepted and former health officials should also be investigated.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2013.
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