ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday remarked that after setting examples in two major provinces of the country, he may be travelling to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the coming days.
“I have set examples in two bigger provinces … and will be visiting KP as well,” the CJP said while hearing a case pertaining to sub-standard heart stents.
The CJP remarked that for matters of heart, blood pressure and diabetes, there needs to be an affordable solution for the patients. He ordered the authorities concerned to bring down prescription costs for these diseases in the hospitals. “If you go to a doctor, the medicines prescribed cost Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000. It should be brought down to Rs 500 to Rs1,000,” he observed.
“The Punjab government has outsourced their functioning … there needs to be a reduction in the prices of dialysis as well, and the entire process of installing a heart stent should cost between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1,00,000,” the CJP suggested. He then asked for the prescription for medicines required by patients of heart, blood pressure and diabetes, which was submitted by Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology head Dr Azhar Kiyani.
The CJP remarked that the information about the low-cost prescriptions should be featured in newspapers as well. “If the governments have any reservations, they may submit those to the court,” he observed. The court also ordered provincial governments to ensure that necessary medicines and instruments are available in hospitals.
The case was later adjourned for two weeks.
Published in Daily Times, March 28th 2018.
