What can be described as an important decision against private health mafia, a drug court in Lahore has ordered fixing rates of the tests conducted at pathology laboratories, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In his decision on the petition of Muhammad Waseem, a citizen, a copy of which was sent to the registrar of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday, Drug Court Chairman Muhammad Naveed Rana has ordered prescribing punishments for the laboratories charging people more than the fixed rates.  

The court has also ordered setting up a department to determine rates of the tests conducted at private laboratories.  

It is stated in the decision that it is the duty of parliament to ensure protection of every citizen’s basic rights. 

The court regrets the absence of rules on fixing rates of laboratories’ tests. “The Drug Act, Punjab Drug Rules and the DRAP Act are all silent on the issue,” it said.  

The court expresses concern over the fact that no punishments have been prescribed for the laboratories charging excessive rates from people. “The rates are especially quite high at Chughtai and some other private labs. Consequently, the poor people of Punjab are getting affected by that,” reads the decision.  

The court has also ordered the Punjab health secretary to submit to it a report on the legislation done on the subject on October 24, 2022. 

Reporter: Malik Ashraf