SUKKUR: A constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court at Sukkur has expressed anger over the health secretary’s responses on medicine procurement.

The bench, comprising Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi and Justice Abdul Hameed Bhurgri, was hearing a petition concerning the appointment of the health secretary.

The honorable bench asked the health secretary as to from where were the medicines purchased for government hospitals and at what cost?

Whereupon Health Secretary Rehan Baloch failed to provide a satisfactory answer to the honorable court.

He informed the court that various committees had been formed for the procurement of medicines and those committees purchased drugs according to the need.

Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi said: “Our question is very simple as to from whom and for how much were the medicines purchased? Will a committee also be formed to answer this very simple question?”

Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi said: “People come to hospitals for healing, but they end up contracting other diseases.”

Honorable Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi said: “There is a petition stating that medicines are not available in the hospital.”

When the Civil Hospital Naushahro Feroze MS stated: “People come to take medicines from government hospitals merely out of their hobby.” Whereupon the court expressed anger over his answer and ordered him [MS] to leave the rostrum.

“People are not getting common medicines, and you are misleading the court,” remarked justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi.

“Used syringes are being utilised at NICVD (National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases”, Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi remarked and added that hospital waste was thrown next to the boundary walls of the healthe facilities.

The health secretary assured the honorable court: “I have learned about this today; we will take action on it.”

Whereupon honorable Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi asked: “Mr Secretary, are you learning about everything and every matter only today?”

During the hearing, the health secretary responded that the MS of the Civil Hospital Sukkur had been removed.

Whereupon Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi said: “Why is action taken just one day before the hearing? And why is action not taken earlier?”

Honorable Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi inquired about the matter of medicines worth millions of rupees being found in a bungalow.

Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal replied: “The matter is being inquired into, and the drug inspector has been removed from his post.”

Consolidated petitions

During the hearing of a case about faulty machinery, medicine shortages and corruption in the health department, the honorable court inquired about the faulty CT scan and MRI machinery in the Civil Hospital of Sukkur, which had been repaired for Rs80 million.

The court asked the secretary: “Rs80 million have been wasted in eight days. What are you people doing?”

During the hearing, former MS Dr Ikhtiar Mirani informed the honorable court that the MRI machine was purchased for Rs300 million but it became faulty within eight days.

Justice Abdul Hameed Bhurgari said: “When you buy an item worth one thousand rupees for your home, you ask for a warranty, so why don’t you ask for a warranty when purchasing a machine worth Rs80 million?”

The court was informed that the MRI machinery’s tender was issued in 2023, repaired in 2025, and it became faulty a week later.

The court ordered the secretary to visit the civil hospital, conduct a review and submit a report.

During the hearing, the court had asked the secretary to explain how medicines were purchased and demanded a copy of the tender documents. But the health department officials failed to present the tender copy to the court.

The court issued a written order and adjourned the hearing.

Petitioners’ lawyers Shabbir Shar and Gulzar Almani, and Additional Advocate General Sindh Ali Raza Baloch, Secretary Rehan Baloch, new Civil Hospital Sukkur MS Ahmed Mujtaba and other relevant officials were present in the court.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2025