- CJP says low-cost prescriptions’ information to be featured in newspapers
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar ordered on Tuesday that the prescription costs should be brought down.
The CJP issued these directives while hearing a case pertaining to sub-standard heart stents. Last year, the chief justice took suo motu notice over reports that some hospitals in Lahore are either recommending stents unnecessarily or charging patients up to Rs 180,000, which actually cost no more than few thousand rupees. It was also reported that in some cases, stents were not even implanted in the patients and they were charged for fake angioplasties.
Hearing the case, the CJP remarked that the prescription costs should be between Rs500 to Rs1,000.
“If you go to a doctor, the medicine he prescribes cost Rs5,000 to Rs7,000,” the chief justice observed.
Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology Head Dr Azhar Kiyani submitted the prescription for medicines required by patients of heart, blood pressure and diabetes to the CJP after being asked by the apex court to do
“The low-cost prescriptions’ information should be featured in newspapers as well,” the CJP remarked. “If the governments have any reservations, they may submit them to the court,” the court ruled.
The court also directed provincial governments to ensure that necessary medicines, instruments are present in hospitals concerned.
The chief justice observed that the cost of dialysis has to be reduced as well, adding that the stents will now cost Rs100,000 to Rs60,000.
The case has been adjourned for two weeks.
