Health Sector Must Not Fall Prey to Corruption, Warns Sindh High Court Acting Chief Justice

Health Reporter

Karachi: Acting Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, on Sunday warned that Pakistan’s health sector must not be allowed to fall victim to commercialization and corruption, stressing that malpractice in medicine had persisted for years and remained alarming.

Speaking as chief guest at the 5th Health Care Summit 2025 and Health Care Awards Ceremony, organized by the Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP), Justice Rajput said the government needed to prioritize justice, health, and education alongside political demands.

“The health sector must not become commercialized. Today, doctors who prescribe more medicines from specific companies are rewarded with foreign trips and expensive gifts. This is bribery and must stop,” he said, calling for a complete ban on prescription-linked publicity.

Justice Rajput noted that Pakistan had more registered medicines than those approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), urging the government to regulate registrations and eliminate bribery in the system. He reminded that under Article 9 of the Constitution, every citizen is guaranteed the right to life, while Article 38 makes healthcare a state responsibility.

“Progress of nations is linked to good health, and a hallmark of developed societies is a focus on women’s development,” he added.

CAP Chairman Kaukab Iqbal criticized the Health Care Commission for failing to act against quack doctors, exploitative hospitals, and rising medicine prices. “Our job is to protect consumer rights, and we will take legal measures if necessary. No one can be allowed to play with people’s lives,” he said.

PPP MNA and Honorary Consul General Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said that despite the passage of Sindh’s first consumer rights protection law, its implementation remained stalled. Business leader Khalid Tawab highlighted poor water quality as a major contributor to hepatitis and other diseases.

Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, CEO of Indus Hospital, shared that the institution had expanded from 150 beds to 13 branches nationwide over 18 years, now operating with a Rs. 61 billion budget. Irfan Soomro, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Karachi, emphasized healthcare’s importance, recalling his work with the UN.

Other speakers, including Dr. Sheikh Shakeel, warned of a surge in malaria cases in Sindh’s urban centers, while Advocate Javed Chhatari revealed that notices had been sent to 250 companies over the misuse of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.

The summit also saw resolutions passed on healthcare reforms and the distribution of shields among prominent participants, including Justice Rajput, Kaukab Iqbal, Dr. Ikhtiar Baig, and others. The Consul General of Indonesia was also present at the ceremony.