Substandard drugs: Anti-Corruption Establishment submits report to PHC
Total of 10,246 patients tested positive for hepatitis C and 6,441 could not be treated due to substandard injections.
PESHAWAR:
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) director produced a detailed report on the purchase and supply of substandard Interferon injections before the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday.
Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Musarrat Hilali were informed a total of 10,246 patients tested positive for hepatitis C, 71 died and 6,441 could not be treated. Interferon is one of the recommended drugs for hepatitis.
ACE Director Fayyaz Ali Shah said the National Institution of Health (NIH) tested the interferon vials and found fibres and particles in them.
According to Shah, NIH does not have test records of some batches which were supplied to hospitals, including batch number 76, 77 and 78 – injections worth Rs300 million.
The bench later turned down the request of former director general Muhammad Ali Chohan – currently on interim bail – when his counsel, Ghulam Muhiuddin Malik, requested the bench to direct the lower court not to be influenced by the PHC’s previous order. The orders directed the K-P chief secretary to allow the ACE to arrest all those involved in the scam.
CJ Khan, however, observed since it was a suo motu notice, the lower court was not involved. If Malik’s client still felt aggrieved from the PHC’s last orders, he should file a separate application.
The bench later directed Shah to collect universal data on hepatitis C mortality rates. The case was adjourned till May 9.
The ACE arrested Director General Health Services Dr Sharif Ahmad Khan, former Hepatitis Control Programme director Dr Ghulam Subhani and assistant junior clerk Mubarak Shah on April 3 for allegedly purchasing and supplying 1.6 million substandard hepatitis C curing injections worth Rs250 million to government-run hospitals.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2013.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) director produced a detailed report on the purchase and supply of substandard Interferon injections before the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday.
Chief Justice (CJ) Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Musarrat Hilali were informed a total of 10,246 patients tested positive for hepatitis C, 71 died and 6,441 could not be treated. Interferon is one of the recommended drugs for hepatitis.
ACE Director Fayyaz Ali Shah said the National Institution of Health (NIH) tested the interferon vials and found fibres and particles in them.
According to Shah, NIH does not have test records of some batches which were supplied to hospitals, including batch number 76, 77 and 78 – injections worth Rs300 million.
The bench later turned down the request of former director general Muhammad Ali Chohan – currently on interim bail – when his counsel, Ghulam Muhiuddin Malik, requested the bench to direct the lower court not to be influenced by the PHC’s previous order. The orders directed the K-P chief secretary to allow the ACE to arrest all those involved in the scam.
CJ Khan, however, observed since it was a suo motu notice, the lower court was not involved. If Malik’s client still felt aggrieved from the PHC’s last orders, he should file a separate application.
The bench later directed Shah to collect universal data on hepatitis C mortality rates. The case was adjourned till May 9.
The ACE arrested Director General Health Services Dr Sharif Ahmad Khan, former Hepatitis Control Programme director Dr Ghulam Subhani and assistant junior clerk Mubarak Shah on April 3 for allegedly purchasing and supplying 1.6 million substandard hepatitis C curing injections worth Rs250 million to government-run hospitals.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2013.