Deaths caused by spurious drugs: opposition MPAs severely criticise Punjab chief minister

Opposition legislators severely criticised Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Friday for the deaths of more than 100 persons at Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) due to adverse drug reaction caused by spurious drugs. However, harsh words by opposition legislators were expunged by the Chair, Mehr Ishtiaq.
Balochistan Minister Shahnawaz Mari was welcomed by both treasury and the opposition in the House during his visit to the Assembly. MPA Samina Khawar Hayat criticised the provincial government for the PIC crisis. She said bad governance was the reason for this crisis. She said that it was chief minister who was responsible for the PIC crisis as he kept 18 different ministry portfolios, including that of health. The MPA said that the provincial government was being run on personal whims, and added that he entire network of health had become redundant in Punjab.
She said that it was fortunate that things became visible because of role of media in mega cities. A legislator from opposition lamented that mobile vans of health sector were in bad shape and were dumped in workshops. He said it was pitiable that spray of kerosene oil was done on dengue-hit areas in the province.
Another legislator posed the query that why those medicines that created havoc in PIC were not tested in proper labs of the province. Allaudin, refuting the charges against CM said that the process of standardisation and registration of medicines was not the responsibility of the provincial government. He said if certain mistakes were committed in purchase, they could be rectified and improved.
He said that registration of medicines was federal government subject for the last 64 years. The MPA said that the chief minister who was working 20 hours a day could not be made responsible for spurious drugs mishap. He said that keeping in view the nature of situation, Shahbaz even got spurious drugs tested from abroad.
An opposition legislator said that that Rs 500,000 cheques, being given to family members of the deceased in spurious medicine, were being bounced. He asked the government to rectify the situation. MPA Amina Ulfat asked whether amendments were made in the Drug Act 1976. She said things needed to be moved fast in the direction of betterment in health portfolio of Punjab. Further time was sought for presentation of certain reports of Standing Committees by MPA Ijaz Ahmed. In query session, due to general discussion on affairs of Punjab Institute of Cardiology, no questions were asked. The House was later adjourned by the Chair for Monday.