LAHORE - Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar Monday lamented the deteriorating condition of Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute, questioning where the huge amount of Rs 20 billion had gone.

The top judge also expressed concern over non-submission of reports regarding the heavy salaries being paid to the doctors at the institute. “A doctor is being paid Rs 3.5 million per month, but no operation has been carried out,” the top judge observed.

“If we conduct forensic audit of Rs 20 billion, it would be all clear that even Rs 7 billion of it had not been spent here,” the CJP remarked.  He was hearing multiple suo motu notices at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry. Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan were the other members of the bench.

During the proceedings, Medical Director Dr Amir Yar Khan appeared before the court and pointed out that the institute was at the constructive stage and 43 doctors had been hired for it.

Answering a court query, Dr Khan said the head of the institute was getting Rs 1.2 million salary while his wife was getting Rs 800,000. The CJP asked him why this discrimination was with the doctors and whether the doctors at public-sector hospitals were getting similar amounts as salaries. Dr Amir Yar Khan answered private practice was banned for those serving the institute and it was the reason that local doctors did not want to serve it.

CJP Nisar questioned the chief secretary whether talent had come to an end in Pakistan. Justice Umar Ata Bandial, the other member of the bench, observed foreign-qualified doctors should work on welfare grounds and give up commercial approach.

Provincial Health Minister Salman Rafiq and officers of various departments were also present in the court. The court directed the health department to submit complete record of staff and budget of the hospital.

The top judge also took suo motu notice of the closure of Shaikh Zayed Hospital’s Kidney Transplant Centre and directed the authorities of the hospital to meet the minimum standards set by Human Organ Transplant Authority (Hota) within one month. “We won’t allow its closure,” the CJP observed and asked the Shaikh Zayed Hospital authorities to explain why the matter was not reported earlier i.e. in January this year.

“Instead of bringing to justice the culprits behind the death of a donor, why is the institute being closed?” The CJP questioned the chairman and health officials present in the court. He pointed out that in order to benefit Al-Shifa Hospital, the institute was closed down. During the proceedings, the court summoned all the members of the transplant authorities and warned nobody should be absent.

The CJP also took notice of the deteriorating condition of Ayub Hospital in Peshawar, saying he never saw so much filth in any operation theatre. “It was shameful to see the lack of facilities at the hospital,” CJP Nisar said.  He averred he would soon visit the hospital along with a team of doctors.

Later, he also visited Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute.

FIDA HUSSNAIN