September 06, 2007	Thursday	Sha'aban 23, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: Major changes in the administration of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences are expected as federal health ministry embarked on an inquiry into alleged irregularities at the city’s mega hospital including dispensing of substandard drugs to the patients, a source said on Tuesday.

Heads in health ministry’s drug wing are also expected to roll because of involvement of some of its officials in permitting the use of stocks of doubtful drugs as the Central Drug Laboratories conducted the tests.

“I have ordered an inquiry that would be conducted by Inspector General Hospitals Dr Majid Rajput,” confirmed health secretary Mr Khushnood Lashari adding the inquiry would fix the responsibility for the wrongdoings.

The inquiry would focus on irregularities in procurement of medicines and other supplies, compromise on quality of drugs and the internal politics of the hospital.

Although the federal secretary was reluctant in confirming imminent changes in the administration of the hospital saying the allegations have to be probed first, but sources insist that the action is likely before the next hearing of the Supreme Court on September 13 in the suo-motu notice regarding use of substandard and adulterated drugs at the hospital.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary had at the last hearing directed the health ministry to submit its report on the allegations of use of substandard drugs by the hospital on September 12.

A pharmacist had pointed out in June earlier this year that certain batches of Injections Metrida (Metronidazole) of Zafa, Injections Nafcin of Vision and Injections Regelan of Pharmadic procured by the hospital appeared suspicious and hence hazardous for the patients.

However, instead of paying heed to the pharmacists caution, she was transferred and the medicines continued to be administered to the patients ostensibly on the basis of a permission provided by federal drug inspector, which said: “The stock procured may be accordingly consumed and any further necessary action may be taken after receiving the test and analysis report from the CDL Karachi.” According to the Drug Act, source said, the hospital should have withheld the stocks after being reported and until cleared. Moreover, the hospital is said to have purchased the drugs from companies, who had already been found to be supplying substandard drugs.

The Central Drug Laboratories in their report last month confirmed the doubts saying the drugs were substandard. The investigations into the drugs scam come at a time when the health ministry is taking up the extension of PIMS Executive Director Dr Fazl-e-Hadi, who has so far been the “blue eyed boy” of the ministry.

Probe into allegations regarding involvement of the administration in internal politics of the doctors and patronising certain people is set to make interesting revelations.