YDA leader demands probe into PIC purchases

LAHORE

The Young Doctors Association (YDA), Pakistan, has accused the Punjab Institute of Cardiology management of procuring heart valves and other items through ‘local purchase’ on a price double than the market rate in the bills for September 2015.

However, the hospital management rejected all allegations, claiming that the local purchase (LP) was being done in a transparent manner with all the medical supplies bought at a price lower than that of market. 

The allegations were levelled by Dr Samra Majeed, YDA Pakistan vice-president, while addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club on Sunday. 

Dr Samra – flanked by YDA Pakistan Secretary General Dr Salman Kazmi, Dr Qazi Yasir, Dr Ali Khawaja and Dr Sara Azam – alleged that the hospital administration had pressurised them not to hold the press conference.

Dr Samra alleged the LP section of PIC purchased mitral valves (artificial heart valves) in September 2015, but allegedly the bill received at the hospital contained a price double the market rate of Rs 55,000.

Other items too, she alleged, were purchased at double price and the hospital pharmacist, Fareeha (who happens to be Dr Samra’s sister) was sacked from the hospital when she refused to sign the bills.

Dr Samra – currently posted in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital – claimed that the management had promised to reinstate Fareeha for keeping the matter within hospital. “It’s not a matter of securing job of her sister, but an issue of corruption,” she remarked.

She demanded the chief minister order an inquiry into the matter otherwise, she said, they would be forced to file a writ petition in high court for an inquiry commission.

On the other hand, PIC Medical Superintendent Dr Sohail Saqlain rejected the allegations, saying the items were purchased at lower prices than market as per annual contract rates and the payment was still to be made to the contractor.

He said oxygenerators had been purchased at a rate of Rs 22,110 against a market price of Rs 33,000. Likewise, heart valves (mechanical aortic) were purchased at Rs 46,900, whose market price was Rs 70,000. Similarly, the procurement price of retrograde cannula was Rs 4,020 against a market price of Rs 6,000. Dr Sohail said the bills shown by the pharmacist were the ones submitted by the contractor to her, adding that the pharmacist’s performance was also not up to the mark and accountability turned her against the management. “We have given a patient hearing to the pharmacist and also offered to reinstate her but her doctor sister from some other hospital, who is an office bearer of YDA, is inciting her to level allegations against the hospital administration,” Dr Sohail said, while terming it a futile effort to damage the reputation of PIC.

Meanwhile, Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) MS Dr Sohail Saqlain on Sunday said the biggest cardiac emergency of the country having 200 beds at PIC would soon be completed.

Latest equipments including angiography system, cardiac monitors and lift system had been imported for facility, says a statement.

He added that all the staff had been posted for activating the new emergency for which they were being trained. The process had also been started to upgrade the existing building, he said.