Pneumonia, diarrhoea deaths: SC issues notices to federation, provinces

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the federation and the four provincial governments seeking their reply in a suo motu case pertaining to deaths of children from pneumonia, diarrhoea and Hepatitis C in three weeks A three-member bench led by Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan, comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Faisal Arab also allowed Everest Pharmaceutical Company to become party in the matter.
On November 27, taking a suo motu notice in the matter, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali had sought comments from the health secretaries of all the four provinces. During the course of hearing, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan cited some reports saying imported drugs donation were being sold in the open market, adding that for eradicating polio expired vaccine was administered in some parts of the country. He further remarked that Hepatitis C prevails amongst thousands of prison inmates in jails of the country.
Seeking permission to become party in the current matter, Muhammad Usman of Everest Pharmaceutical Company contended that he will expose mala fide practice of other drug manufacturers/distributors of drugs meant for treatment of Hepatitis C and Drug Registration Authority which he alleged has become a tool of such vested interests. Accepting his plea the bench issued notices to Federal Health Secretary, Chief Executive Officer of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and Director Generals of all the provinces and adjourned the hearing for three weeks.