‘Spurious’ medicines supply: MS of Mansehra hospital transferred on CM aide’s orders

MANSEHRA: Chief Minister Advisor on Health Ihtisham Ali has taken notice of the supply of spurious medicines to patients being treated under the Sehat Sahulat Programme of the provincial government.

“I can’t believe you’re prescribing medicines you wouldn’t even consider giving to your children or family members. How can you prescribe them to patients,” Ihtisham Ali told the head of the Sehat Sahulat Programme during a surprise visit to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital here.

Ihtisham Ali, who visited the only tertiary healthcare facility in the upper parts of Hazara, inspected various wards, medicine stocks, and other departments and ordered transfer of medical superintendent on his failure to check supply of spurious medicines to patients.

He directed the hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Mohammad Tariq, to report to the Directorate General of Health Services in Peshawar.

“We will not allow anyone to purchase and supply substandard or fake medicines in place of those from multinational companies, which are meant to be provided to patients under the Sehat Sahulat Programme,” he warned. The health advisor said that the government would not tolerate doctors prescribing inferior or spurious drugs for commissions.

“Our government is investing significant financial resources to provide quality healthcare, which is why the Sehat Sahulat Programme was re-launched. Anyone found misusing the programme for personal gain through commissions or any unfair means will be brought to justice under strict provincial laws,” he added.

Meanwhile, following the advisor’s visit, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Secretary issued a notification ordering Medical Superintendent Dr Mohammad Tariq to report to the Health Secretariat in Peshawar.

In a related development, Dr Mohammad Naeem Awan, the Medical Superintendent of Type-D Hospital Baffa, has been given the additional charge of MS at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital for three months.