KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the provincial authorities to ensure the smooth and proper functioning of the hepatitis diagnostic centres and vaccination of people across the province.

A two-judge bench was hearing a petition seeking a court order to the provincial government to establish a forensic laboratory and provide DNA testing facility to citizens in order to save scientific evidence for promoting justice and equity.

The petitioner also requested the court to direct the authorities to take action against alleged corruption and malpractices in the medico-legal system.

The bench had taken up the issue involving closure of the hepatitis centres and clinics in the province and shortage of medicines and injections during one of the hearings of the petition that initially called for action against alleged corruption and malpractices in the medico-legal system and non-implementation of medico-legal procedures.

On Wednesday, the provincial health secretary, who appeared in court on a notice, was also directed by the bench to ensure that no complaint against the hepatitis programme was received from any quarter.

Besides, as many as 25 district and sessions judges from across the province submitted their reports about the functioning of the centres and clinics in their respective jurisdiction.

According to the reports of the judicial officers, a vaccination centre was established at the residence of an area landlord, Faqir Muhammed Khosa, in Jhuddo, Hyderabad, instead of opening it at the government hospital. Moreover, there was no doctor posted there, a report said.

The reports also said that the people were constrained to get them vaccinated at private health and vaccination centres in the province as there were no doctors or vaccine in the government-run centres.

The bench directed the health secretary to ensure the smooth functioning of vaccination centres in the province and submit his detailed and comprehensive report by Jan 13 when the court would again take up the matter.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2014