The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday sought replies from the Punjab government, Health Secretary, and Medical Superintendent of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) over allegations of delayed and inadequate heart treatment for patients.
Justice Khalid Ishaq heard a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel highlighting prolonged delays in life-saving cardiac procedures at the state-run hospital.
The petitioner’s counsel said patients needing open-heart surgery face waiting periods of eight months to one year, with around 2,500 individuals on the bypass surgery waiting list.
Echocardiography and angiography reportedly take two to three months, while CT angiography and thallium scans involve delays of three to six months.
The petition also alleged that patients suffering minor heart attacks are sometimes discharged from the emergency department without proper treatment, being referred to outpatient follow-ups.
The court was urged to direct authorities to provide timely and improved cardiac care at PIC, warning that current delays endanger patients’ lives and force underprivileged individuals to seek costly private treatment.
