Registration of cardiac stents: SC directs PM's principal secretary to form body

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued directives to Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad to convene a meeting of all the stakeholders and form a committee for registration of cardiac stents to resolve the matter at the earliest.
Appearing before a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar hearing a suo motu on high prices of stents in the country, Fawad Hassan Fawad apprised that no matter relating to registration of the cardiac stent is pending with the Prime Minister. After the court's directives, Fawad Hassan Fawad assured the bench that a committee for registration of cardiac stents would be established soon.
At the onset of the proceedings, Chairman Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Dr Muhammad Aslam apprised the court that a summary for establishment of assessment body for registration purpose of the medical device has been sent to the Prime Minister, alleging that formation of committee got delayed as the Prime Minister Office failed to take any step in this regard.
To which the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar summoned Fawad Hassan Fawad and Secretary Ministry of National Health Services Muhammad Ayub Sheikh with record after the break to explain why the Prime Minister had delayed the approval of the summary on an important issue, which relates to public health.
In pursuance of the court's orders, Fawad Hassan Fawad and the secretary health appeared before the bench where the Principal Secretary to the PM informed that till Thursday morning the PM Office did not receive any summary from DRAP. Fawad further said that it is a wrong impression that the Prime Minister Office has withheld the summary.
He submitted that action starts on a file when it is received, saying the Prime Minister has directed the staff that any issue related to health should be resolved immediately, to which Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar appreciated the Premier's views.
Addressing to the principal secretary, the Chief justice asked him to take the Prime Minister into confidence and, if need arises, change the law in the current matter and then the summary should be approved in 10 days.
During the course of proceedings, the chairman DRAP also apprised the court that stent is manufactured in Pakistan and sent to Germany for sterilisation, to which the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that Pakistani stent is of world standard and its price is also less.
Chairman Heart Patient Society Dr Imran agreeing to observation of the Chief Justice informed that locally manufactured stent is in testing stage. Fawad Hassan Fawad informed that funds have been released to NESCOM for manufacturing of stent in Pakistan. Appreciating the NESCOM effort, the Chief Justice observed that it would be a medicated stent, adding that there is mechanism to register ancillary medical devices for cardiac stent, saying if process of the cardiac surgery is not possible without such devices then apex court will have to intervene for assurance of the registration of the devices.
The Chief Justice expressed that the court will examine the performance of DRAP, adding that medical devices, which are registered with the DRAP could be used till the final decision of this case. The Chief Justice observed that life is beautiful when all the facilities are available.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar issued directives to the DRAP to take decision about applications for the registration of stents and other medical devices within one week. Expressing dismay over the utilisation of unregistered stents, the Chief Justice remarked that it is not the right of any doctor to insist upon implanting unregistered stent.
Issuing directives to the chairman DRAP to sit with all the stakeholders in the committee for registration of stents in the Prime Minister Secretariat under the chair of Fawad Hassan Fawad in the matter, the court adjourned the hearing till March 16.