Mitral valves’ purchase on double price - YDAP urges CM to order inquiry

By Our Staff Reporter Lahore: Young Doctors Association Pakistan (YDAP) has alleged that the management of Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) purchased mitral valves (artificial heart valves) and other items at exorbitant rates in September 2015. Speaking at a news conference at Lahore Press Club, YDAP’s vice president Dr Samra Majeed along with secretary general Dr Salman Kazmi, Dr Qazi Yasir, Dr Ali and Dr Sara Azam said that the PIC’s local purchase section procured artificial heart valves at a market price of Rs55,000 each, but the bill carried the double amount. Similarly, other items were purchased at double the price from the market but her sister, a pharmacist at the PIC, was sacked when she refused to sign the bills, she alleged. She also accused Kh. Ahmed Hasan and MPA Waheed Gull of pressurizing her not to raise the issue, saying the former held a detailed meeting and offered restoration of sacked pharmacist (her sister) for keeping quite on the issue. Dr Samra Majeed alleged that MPA Waheed Gull and others threatened her of dire consequences if she kept on demanding an inquiry into the matter. She also turned her guns towards PMDC member and YDA Punjab leader Dr Amer Bandesha, alleging that he (Dr Bandesha) also advised her to resolve the issue `amicably’. She regretted that the matter had been brought into the notice of chairman BoM and other authorities concerned but to no avail. She alleged that PIC medical superintendent was changing invoices and bills, saying tempering in hospital record would not help the administration. She demanded of the chief minister to get the matter probed by CMIT and Anti Corruption Department, or else she would approach court of law.