Adjourning the hearing of a suo motu case over inflated price of cardiac stents in the country on Thursday, the Supreme Court sought report from the authorities concerned pertaining to detail of locally manufactured stents.
Resuming the hearing of the matter, a three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed the matter in hand is for the benefit of the heart patients and issued directives that the representative of manufacturers of stent in Pakistan should be present in next hearing.
During the course of proceedings, Additional Attorney General Waqar Rana informed the bench that they have relaxed the procedure for the registration of stents and medical device, adding that the authorities are now focusing to evolve mechanism for determining the stent price.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that it is responsibility of the government that the stents are manufactured locally, adding that in the operation theatre a patient is in the awkward position, as he battle for his life and wanted somehow he is saved.
He further remarked that exploitation of the patient is done in the operation theatre so price of a stent should be determined, adding that the cost of an imported stent caries from Rs 0.6 million to Rs 0.7 million, while the price of a locally made stent price is Rs 50,000.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that state does not realize its responsibility until the matter comes to the court and hinted at examining the prices of the drugs at some later stage.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said that substandard stent should not be implanted, saying the court will not tolerate negligence in the health issues, adding the court would have to fulfil its responsibility towards health matters.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till last week of April.
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