PIC medical bungling death toll tops 27

However, preliminary inquiry has cleared Punjab Institute of Cardiology of negligence while the tragedy is yet unfolding.The Outdoor Patients Department of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology provides free medicine to the needy patients, but after using these medicines, a number of patients from various localities started pouring into citys hospitals with complaints of bleeding from nose, ears and other body parts.A report says some 150 patients are still being treated for medicines reaction, and many amongst them are battling for life.The PIC authorities reportedly contacted a number of patients to ask them to stop using the medicines provided to them free of cost. However, the step of the hospital proved to be too little, and too late, as over a dozen patients had passed away by then. Eight people died in Mayo Hospital after taking what their relatives called “toxic medicines”.Ironically, the two enquiry committees constituted for probing into the matter have exonerated the PIC management of negligence. But they have apparently chosen not to trace the reason for the reaction by medicines.As per details, more than 150 patients have reached different hospitals of Lahore after reaction from “PIC’s toxic medicines”. The number of affected patients and people dying after medicine reaction is feared to increase further in absence of urgent, needful steps by the provincial health authorities.Secretary Health Jahanzeb Khan, talking to Dunya News, however said that deaths due to medicine reaction were deplorable and strict action would be taken against the responsible.Provincial Health Minister Dr Saeed Elahi said that the tragedy happened due to improper storage of medicines.Dr Saeed also promised stern action against the people behind the mishap, adding that such incidents have occurred in many countries and a team has been formed to probe into the matter.Punjab Governor Latif Khosa has called a detailed report and vowed that investigation would be done by FIA.