MANSEHRA: Adviser to the chief minister on health Ihtesham Ali has taken notice of the complaints about the supply of spurious medicines to patients treated under the Sehat Sahulat Card health insurance programme.

“I can’t believe spurious medicines are prescribed to patients,” Mr Ali lashed out at the head of the Sehat Sahulat Programme during a surprise visit to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital here on Friday night.

Mr Ali inspected various wards, medicine stocks and other departments, and ordered transfer of medical superintendent on his failure to check supply of spurious medicines to patients. He directed MS Dr Mohammad Tariq to report to the Directorate General of Health Services in Peshawar.

“We will not allow anyone to purchase and supply substandard or fake medicines in place of those from multinational companies, which are meant to be provided to patients under the Sehat Sahulat Card Programme,” he warned.

Warns of strict action over spurious medicine supply

The health adviser said the government would not tolerate doctors prescribing spurious drugs to claim commission.

“Our government is investing significant financial resources to provide quality healthcare, which is why the SSC programme was re-launched. Anyone found misusing the programme for personal gain through commissions or any unfair means will be brought to justice under strict provincial laws,” he said.

Later, the health secretary issued a notification ordering medical superintendent Dr Mohammad Tariq to report to the Health Secretariat in Peshawar.

In a related development, Dr Mohammad Naeem Awan, the medical superintendent of Type-D hospital Baffa, has been given the additional charge of MS at the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital for three months.

“Mr Awan, a BPS-19 officer, is hereby assigned the additional charge of MS KATH for three months or until the posting of a regular incumbent,” the official notification read.

JIRGAS ILLEGAL: District police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur has said holding private jirgas is strictly forbidden under the law as such forums are often exploited by criminals for their interests.

“We are going to increase the five dispute resolution councils to 17 to cover all police stations in the district for speedy and free justice,” he said during an open kutchery in Khaki.

People from various walks of life participated in the forum and raised both personal and community issues.

Mr Gandapur said that a handful of outlaws and criminals were taking advantage of local disputes and enmities to serve their own interests and fleece the money.

“Currently, five DRCs are operational and helping resolve disputes, offering quick and free-of-cost justice to litigants and easing the burden on the subordinate judiciary,” he added.

He further said that dozens of social media accounts involved in spreading sectarian and ethnic hatred were monitored, and the individuals behind them had been booked and arrested.

“I assure you that anyone found uploading such content to incite religious or sectarian violence, from abroad will be tracked, their passports and national identity cards will be blocked, and they will be brought back to face justice,” he said.

Mr Gandapur warned a cell was monitoring social media in collaboration with the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing and other law-enforcement agencies round the clock.

“I urge people to identify drug peddlers for a crackdown,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2025