Islamabad: About 80 per cent patients at Federal Government Services Hospital (Poly Clinic) are allegedly being provided substandard life saving drugs, sources said on Wednesday.
The Poly Clinic management in order to put money in their own pockets granted contracts to local companies allegedly producing substandard medicines instead of multi-national companies.
The provided life-saving drugs are not only putting patients’ lives at risk but causing side effects of various kinds. The residents of the Islamabad and patients visiting the hospital from far flung areas have demanded Supreme Court Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Federal health minister to immediately take notice of the issue.
They said it is the first time when patients are being provided with substandard medicines. The hospital management gave contracts to local companies while the previous government of PML-N was going to end and the new government was yet to elect. Lack of interest at the end of the former government was a major factor that provided space to the corrupt elements.
The sources said that currently about 80 per cent patients in the hospital were being provided local made life saving drugs. The hospital management has alleged made agreement on cash with the local companies.
The sources said Rs50,000 bribe has allegedly been taken for one item whereas more than 300 items are being supplied in the hospital by local companies. More than 10 pharmaceutical companies are involved in the supply of drugs to the hospital.
The ‘corrupt’ management in the hospital is putting efforts to hide their corruption after the new government took charge.
Malik Shafiq, a patient, said medicines being provided to children are substandard. Rukhsana Bibi and Zafar Ahmed, attendants with two patients, said the hospital never provide substandard medicines to its patients but now.
Razia Bibi, another patient, said appealed the chief justice and health minister to take notice of the issue. It is pertinent to mention here that three doctors at the Poly Clinic have already been suspended for their alleged involvement in purchase of oxygen gas corruption. The chief justice had himself ordered inquiry into the matter while taking suo moto notice.
Dr Sharif Astori, spokesperson Poly Clinic, while refusing provision of sub-standard medicines in the hospital said along with multinational companies local companies are also supplying medicines to the hospital but the decision of involving local companies was taken to encourage local companies and improve their standard.
