LHC seeks 14-year record of medical junkits by babus

LAHORE Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought record of the government officials and the public representatives went abroad from 1997 onwards for medical treatment on government expenses as well as detail of funds released to each by the Punjab government. The also directed Punjab Chief Secretary and Punjab Secretary Health to submit detailed report in the court by July 11. The judge directed the respondents including Punjab government, to explain under what law such indulgence has been shown about sending the government servants to foreign countries for the medical treatment, even for minor diseases, for which treatment is well available in Pakistan. The judge passed the said direction on a petition filed by Prof Dr Sajjad Hussain challenging lavish funds released by the government from Grant-In-Aid for select number of government officials for their medical treatment abroad. He said that health department Punjab on March 27, 1997 through a notification imposed a ban on government sponsored medical treatment abroad for the civil servants as well as for their family members for the diseases which may be cured locally in the public sector hospitals. The petitioner said his daughter Dr Sara had been suffering from liver disorder and urgently needed liver transplant abroad and on his application Special Medical Board of the health department Punjab approved Rs 5 million for her treatment abroad. After approving the case, the medical board sent it to Punjab Chief Minister for sanctioning of funds but the CM approved only Rs 2 million which was not sufficient for the treatment abroad. He said he sent Rs 47,44,750 on the transplant aboard from personal pocket while some blue eyed government servants, even retired ones, are being given up to Rs 7 million in one go for treatments of minor diseases, when they can be easily treated in local public hospitals.