LAHORE– Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif told the media persons here on Wednesday that samples of the spurious medicines provided to the pagtients by the Punjab Institute of Cardiology have been sent to France and Britain for tests to ascertain whether the drugs were really  sham.
To a question the CM said the Federal Government was responsible for manufacturing and import of the medicines, adding that despite the 18th Amendment this task was still with the Centre. However, he added, following law the Punjab government has got the FIR registered.
He said reports of the tests will be made public and persons held responsible for PIC spurious drugs would not be spared. The CM counted 100 deaths occurred throughout the province by the use of deadly medicines. The CM said no concession will be given to those who played with the lives of the poor people. The CM said the patients under treatment at the hospitals will be provided best medicare free of charge. The CM maintained that the patients are being given best treatment.
The CM said on the criminal side of the matter, that Major Mubashirullah is investigating the matter. He said the final report on the issue is fast under completion.  Shahbaz Sharif valuing the human life higher than anything else said it makes for a heinous offence if life of a poor man is lost due to use of substandard medicines. He said every possible means is being pursued to deal with the situation in addition to thoroughly looking into the matter of adverse reaction of the medicines under question.
The CM told a questioner that samples of the medicines under question have been derived from four sources including hospital stocks, under treatment patients and third from those which have been under use of expired patients.
He said different teams were probing the issue and the reports on their findings would be made public. He committed to bring strictly to task anyone found responsible for this heinous offence.
Earlier the Chief Minister presided over a meeting held to take stock of the situation created by the use of spurious medicines. The CM during the meeting constituted a committee headed by Dr Faisal Masood for maintaining constant visits to the hospitals to ensure proper medical facilities to the patients. He said Rs 50million have been released for the financial assistance of the affected persons. The CM directed for providing monetary assistance at the residence of the patients who have been cured of the problem and discharged from the hospitals.