Two more people died due to reaction from free medicines, bringing the death toll to 105. Muhammad Gulab (60) and Munir (66) died in local hospitals on Friday. Both were admitted in the hospitals a few days back. Around 200 patients, affected by the substandard medicines, are still under treatment in various hospitals. Five zones have been established in the province for patients affected due to the reaction of medicines.
Punjab Law Minister Sanaullah told reporters that investigations into the reaction of medicines were underway and whoever would be found involved would be brought to justice. He said the government has asked authorities concerned for providing treatment facilities to the patients affected due to medicines. The provincial parliamentary secretary for Health Dr Saeed Elahi said that samples of suspected medicines had been sent to the UK and France for analysis and report.
According to him, about 70 percent of the suspected free medicine was supplied to cardiac patients in Lahore and officials are getting back the medicine from patients at their given address. Pursuant to directions of health department, post mortem of those who died due to drug reaction is being carried out. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also chaired a meeting to review the steps taken for controlling the situation arising due to reaction of medicines of Punjab Institute of Cardiology.
Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said that the strategy evolved for overcoming the situation developed due to the reaction of medicines had yielded positive results and due to the best arrangements made for the treatment of patients in the hospitals, the patients are fast recovering and discharged from the hospitals. He said that the process of provision of alternative medicines and retrieving the medicines from the patients has been completed and medicines are being provided to the cardiac patients through additional counters set up at Punjab Institute of Cardiology.
Moreover, Federal Minister for National Heritage Samina Khalid Ghurki visited the Services Hospital to enquire after the health of patients affected due to reaction of substandard medicines. She went to every patient and assured all-out help on behalf of the government.
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