LHC summons officials over debateable purchase of hepatitis medicine

Lahore: A single bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) comprising Justice Ayesha Malik on Tuesday summoned health officials over controversial purchase of hepatitis medicine.

According to details health authorities have imposed conditions while purchasing hepatitis medicine which were favourable for only one multinational company among all in Pakistan depriving local companies of the level playing field.

These conditions had nothing to do with the law, rules and regulation but were aimed to benefit a favourite company while no advertisement was published before the tender to keep deal secret.

The local companies view the conditions as against the constitution, law, Drug Act and based on malafide intentions.

Subsequently, a local pharmaceutical company challenged the decision of the health authorities in LHC through Barrister Raheel Kamran Sheikh.

They pleaded to declare the proceedings in relation to the procurement of medicine for the year 2014-2015 unconstitutional, void ab initio, illegal, malafide and of no legal effect.

The court after hearing the arguments directed director general health services and other respondents including the multinational pharmaceutical company to appear before the court to explain their actions.

Those made respondent in the case include Province of Punjab, Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority, Procurement Specialist, Director General Health Services,

The Grievance Redressal Committee, Section Officer (Purchase-I), Schering-Plough Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.