SC seeks details on local stents manufacturing, prices

CJ says state doesn’t realise its responsibility until matter comes to court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday sought detail pertaining to cardiac stents to be manufactured locally and the steps so far taken towards it besides providing details of its prices.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard a suo moto case regarding high prices of stents.  The CJ had taken suo moto notice of fraud in fixing stents in cardiac patients during heart surgeries and the action was taken after names of few hospitals surfaced in the mater. 

Appearing on notice, Additional Advocate General Rana Waqar informed that they have relaxed the procedure for the registration of stent and medical device and stent would be now registered as medical devices. 

He further said that medical devices imported from 17 countries including US UK, if approved by Food and Drug Regulatory Agency and other regulatory agencies of those countries and the World Health Organisation (WHO), would be allowed to import and utilise for medical purpose.

The CJ noted that a patient is battling for his life in the operation theater and looking forward to timely and affordable treatment; however, he is being exploited in the operation theater.  The Chief Justice stressed that the price of stent should be determined so that it could be easily available to the needy patients at affordable rates.

Rana Waqar, however, informed the court that the authorities are now focusing to evolve mechanism for determining the stent price. The chief justice said it was the responsibility of the government that the stents are manufactured locally.

The CJ noted that imported stent cost Rs0.6 million to Rs0.7 million, while the locally stent price is Rs50,000. He observed that State does not realise its responsibility until the matter come to the court.

He warned that the court would not tolerate negligence  in the health issues hence he stressed that sub standard tent should not be implanted to the cardiac patients Earlier, Additional Attorney General Rana Waqar submitted a report that contain minutes of the meeting held on 6th and 10th of March and recommendation made in these meetings. The court also examined the notifications issued on 15th March 2017.

The CJ observed that usually they criticise the reports filed in the court on behalf of the government but this time they really appreciate the efforts of the government and work of Additional Attorney General Rana Waqar. Later, the court adjourned the hearing until last week of April.