Govt Committed To Eliminate Illegal Kidney Transplantation, PA Told

Govt committed to eliminate illegal kidney transplantation, PA told

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd May, 2017 ) : Punjab Minister for Specialised Healthcare Khawaja Salman Rafiq Monday told Punjab Assembly that the government was tightening law for discouraging sale-purchase of kidneys in the province.

"Punishments for those involved in nasty trade is being enhanced from ten years to fifteen years," he added. Replying to a question by Jama'at e Islami's Dr Wasim Akhtar, he said, a ruthless crackdown had been carried out to curb illegal kidney transplantation.

During last five years, he said, 21 cases were registered and these cases were under trial in various courts across the province. He dismissed reports about openly carrying out of kidney transplantation in private hospitals and said, the government was giving serious thought to the issue and established the Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority (PHOTA) He maintained that a District Vigilance Committee and a regional network had been put in place under Punjab Divisional Commissioner to snub illegal human organs transplantation.

On a question by a treasury member Bao Akhtar Ali, he said that institutional private practice was permitted in all autonomous hospitals under Punjab Medical Health Institution Act 2003, however, he made it clear that no professor doctor could check patients privately during day hours.

The Minister told lawmaker Mian Tariq Mehmood that the Health Department was ensuring all available facilities at Burn Unit, Mayo hospital Lahore. Currently, he said, a 24-bed Burn Unit and four beds ICU was functional at 4th floor of Mayo Hospital while another Burn Unit having Hydro Therapy Bath Tubs, Burn Shower Trollies, mobile Ventilators ICU Invasive Monitor and Modelers Operation Theaters would become functional by end August 2017.

Earlier, the second sitting of the current assembly was started two hours and five minutes behind its scheduled time with Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal in the chair. The House could not address its legislative agenda due to missing quorum.

It did not take up ordinances and statutory reports appearing on the List of the business. An Independent Lawmaker Ahsan Riaz Fatyana staged a token walkout over minister's unsatisfactory reply to his question.

A PTI lawmaker Amir Waqas pointed out quorum which led to suspension of the proceedings. However, the quorum was found incomplete on recount and the sitting was adjourned till nest morning (Tuesday) at 10 am.