Amid the efforts being taken to avert the spread of coronavirus, Pakistan is being used as 'dumping ground' for banned medical instruments and expired medicines by developed world under the guise of medical aid; it is learnt here.
Rehabilitation response centre of one of the western countries sent a medical aid comprising two containers on the name of one of the Sindh medical associations.
The description of the consignment stated that these two containers carried assorted type of medical equipment comprising hydraulic hospital beds 21 pieces, bed mattress four pieces, zimmer walking frames 110 pieces, walking aids/hand sticks 40 pieces, patient bathing tub 1 piece, pallets of stoma bags and accessories eight pieces, patient monitors 24 pieces, plaster room sheets seven pieces, physiotherapy couch three pieces, operating table four pieces, operation theatre light four pieces, fresnias monitoring systems 24 pieces, hand wheel stretcher 30 pieces and x-ray bed one piece.
However, Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Port Qasim during physical examination recovered medical equipment banned under Import Policy Order (IPO) 2016 and also found expired medicines.
The department has recovered banned medical equipment including used baby incubator, used theatre transport incubator, used dialysis machines, used wheel chairs and used replacement limbs. The import of said medical equipment in used condition either as medical aid or commercial purpose has been prohibited under the IPO 2016, sources said.
In addition, over 1000 kilograms of assorted types of expired medicines were also found in these containers; sources said and added that the clearance of these containers was stopped and legal proceedings were initiated by MCC Port Qasim.
Sources said that these medical equipment and expired medicines were given by rehabilitation response of one of the western countries under medical aid; adding that these medical equipment and expired medicines, which were brought in the country under medical aid, were expected to be sold in the markets.
The department has started investigating the matter to ascertain the involvement of the said medical association, they said and added that this was said to be new phenomena where western world has started dumping its used and expired medicines under medical aid in Pakistan.
"If these medical instruments and expired medicines come in the markets for human consumption then it would appear costly for the country amid coronavirus threats," sources said and urged the authority concerned to take strict measures to avert its sales.
When contacted, collector MCC Port Qasim, he was not available on phone for comments.
Comments
Comments are closed.