LAHORE: The Young Doctors Association is apparently divided over the termination of a Punjab Institute of Cardiology’s pharmacist.

A couple of YDA officials told a news conference here on Sunday that association’s Punjab president and a ruling party MPA were restricting the YDA from raising voice against corruption.

YDA Pakistan vice-president Dr Samra Majeed and general secretary Dr Salman Kazmi said the YDA had always exposed corruption in the public sector hospitals despite receiving threats. She alleged that PML-N leader Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan had held detailed deliberations with the YDA leaders and promised to reinstate pharmacist Farheea.

She claimed that the PIC had purchased medicines and different instruments at inflated prices. She cited an example of a heart mechanical valve purchased at Rs108,000 against the market price of Rs55,000.

Hospital MS refutes doctors’ allegations

Dr Majeed said the YDA had filed complaints about the shoddy affairs of the PIC but all complaints fell on deaf ears. The YDA demanded that the chief minister should hold an inquiry into the affairs of the PIC through his inspection team and anti-corruption department, otherwise, the association would move court.

The YDA vice-president said the PIC administration had terminated the services of the pharmacist when she refused to sign inflated bills.

Meanwhile, PIC medical superintendent Dr Sohail Saqlain has said the allegation of purchase of medicines and instruments on prices higher than the market rate was baseless. He claimed that the said items were purchased at lower rates than market as per annual contract rates and added that the institution was yet to make the payments.

Dr Saqlain said the oxy-generators had been purchased at Rs22,110 per piece against market price of Rs33,000. Likewise, he said the heart valve mechanical aortic were purchased at the rate of Rs46,900 against market rate of Rs70,000 per piece. Similarly, retrograde cannula were purchased at Rs 4,020 whereas its market price was Rs6,000. Refuting all allegations, Dr Saqlain said the YDA was making a futile effort to damage the PIC reputation.

The PIC MS also said that institute’s 200-bed Cardiac Emergency building was nearing completion and patients would soon be getting state-of-the-art treatment. He said the new emergency was equipped with latest angiography system and cardiac monitors. He said sufficient staff had already been posted after training for activating the new emergency. He said the process of upgrading the existing institute building had also been launched.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2016