Amal Umar's parents: Sindh government directed to explain delay in payment of amount

With directives to Sindh government to explain delay in payment of relief amount to Amal Umar's parents, Supreme Court on Thursday also directed Sindh Healthcare Commission to conduct an inquiry against National Medical Centre in the case.

A two-member SC bench, comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmad and Justice Munib Akhtar, heard a suo motu notice, issued orders to the provincial government to submit detailed reply for the delay in making the payments to the aggrieved parents.

Justice Ahmad came down hard on Sindh provincial government for the poor condition of the hospitals and asked what steps have been taken to improve the situations of the hospitals.

"The relatives of the patients' relatives are sent to take medicine in emergency cases and when they're back, their relatives are found dead...you must know that it is the duty of hospitals to provide emergency medicines to the patient", he regretted.

About the never ending poor performance of Sindh, Justice Ahmad said that people are dying due to firing of Karachi Police and people are looted at traffic signals.

He observed that drug dealers were operating freely in Karachi.

Amal's parents informed the court that the registration of the National Medical Center was done after the death of Amal.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed asked the head of Healthcare Commission whether he visited Sindh hospitals himself.

The state prosecutor said the registration of private hospitals in Sindh continued. He said that the process for issuance of licences would be started after completion of registration.

Justice Munib asked how much is the Healthcare Commission's annual budget? The court was informed that the annual budget of the commission is Rs 360 million. Justice Munib said that this amount would be spent on salaries and office rentals. He remarked that funds would have to be provided to the health department.

Justice Ahmad remarked that funds would have to be invested for human development in Sindh. There is a need to spend money in education and health, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019