criticalppp.com
by:Dr.Saif Ur Rehman
Around 100 tragic deaths of heart patients have occured due to fake medicines provided by the Punjab Governments’ PIC (Punjab Institute of Cardiolology).
This is yet another blunder by chief minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif. Since three weeks, he was waiting for more death toll just like a monster, not much different from his slow-motion response to the dengue epidemic.
In March 2011, National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad and federal government had requested the Punjab government to take necessary steps against impending dengue outbreak. National insititute of health (NIH) is Pakistan’s leading scientific research institute, it plays important role in diseases, the biological effects of environmental contamination and provision of vaccine.
It also has an early warning disease system. NIH had warned Punjab government about possible consequences but they paid no heed and as dengue outbroke, Shahbaz’s reponse was too poor; late in fumigations and lack of public awareness campaign led to edpidemic in Punjab.
Moreover, most effective way to control dengue virus transmission is biological method. No appropriate and prompt measures were taken. Dengue fever took 1000 lives in the Punjab.
Shahbaz Sharif must resign over increasing deaths due to substandard life saving drugs and poor health services in the Punjab.
It is a fact that the PIC is the largest cardiac center in Pakistan. It is the first ISO certified hospital in the government sector. But during Shahbaz Sharif’s four years administration, PIC has been put to dubious deals with unauthorized local pharmaceuticals like Alfalah Pharma, Mega Pharmaceuticals and Pharmawise laboratories. Many of these laboratories are known to provide kickbacks to Punjab government in order to earn expensive contracts and supply fake medicines in return.
According to the Drug Act 1976, The Quality Control system at the federal and provincial level is supported by the professionally
competent drug inspectorates and laboratory services.
This is absolutely criminal negligence on the part of the Punjab government, another faux pas within ten months. It is incredible that instead of tendering his resignation, CM Shahbaz Sharif is still trying to fool the nation that substandard life saving drugs are of imported brand.
Such incompetent Chief Minister must be removed by no-confidence movement in the Punjab assembly without any delay, so that peoples’ lives in the Punjab could be saved, and such tragic incidents are averted in the future.
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