Court orders stern action against COVID-19 drug hoarders

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has ordered the federal and provincial governments to take severe action against hoarders of anti-virus chemicals, life-saving drugs, and equipment used in the treatment of the COVID-19 patients.

As per details, the apex court bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, issued the written orders in the COVID-19 ‘suo motu’ case today (Friday).

According to the court order, “We direct the relevant regulatory authorities, enforcement agencies and respective health ministries of the federal as well as provincial governments to ensure availability of all requisite equipment used for detection, monitoring and treatment of the disease at reasonable prices.

“Ensure adequate and sufficient supply and availability of drugs, oxygen and equipment used in the treatment of the disease at reasonable prices,” the court order read.

The top court noted that unscrupulous elements were hoarding anti-virus chemicals, life-saving drugs and equipment used to detect, monitor and treat patients affected by COVID-19.

In the order, the judges said basic instruments like oximeters have disappeared from the market and are being sold at exorbitant prices.

Similarly, oxygen cylinders, which are necessary to save lives, have disappeared from the market and are being hoarded and sold at excessive prices.

The court further noted that effective steps have not been taken to remedy such illegal and unethical practices either at the federal or the provincial levels.

The court asked the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DARP) for fast-track registration of drugs, which had already been registered in the USA and Europe and were used for the treatment of COVID-19, to facilitate import of such drugs if not manufactured locally and also facilitate local production under licence on a fast-track basis.

The court instructed the federal and provincial governments, ICT, government of Gilgit-Baltistan and DRAP to submit a comprehensive report over the matter before the next date of hearing.

According to the order, Reports had been filed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Plant Protection Department, ICT, governments of the Punjab, Sindh, K-P as well as GB. “All these reports have been examined by us and are taken on record.”

Earlier, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza had announced that health ministry would take stern action against elements involved in overcharging or black marketing of life-saving drugs used by COVID-19 patients.

Talking to a private news channel, Mirza had said that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had been instructed to make sure the availability of medicines used for the management of COVID-19 patients.