Lahore Surgeon Faces Inquiry Over Rs 1M Illegal Heart Surgery Charge
LAHORE: Authorities have launched an investigation into a Lahore-based government hospital heart surgeon accused of charging over Rs 1 million for a heart operation that was supposed to be free of cost.
The surgeon, Dr. Rafay Gillani, allegedly received the substantial sum directly from the patient’s family into his personal bank account, raising serious concerns about illegal financial practices within public healthcare facilities.
In addition to Dr. Gillani’s alleged misconduct, a ward boy at the same hospital has been accused of demanding Rs 10,000 from the patient’s family just to place the patient’s name on the surgery schedule. The ward boy reportedly also threatened the family during the process.
Following the disclosures, the Punjab Health Department initiated disciplinary actions against Dr. Gillani under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEDA) Act. The Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department has ordered a formal departmental inquiry to investigate the matter thoroughly.
As per the inquiry directives, Dr. Gillani and other implicated individuals have been asked to submit their explanations within seven days. The appointed Inquiry Officer has been granted 60 days to complete the investigation.
This case adds to a series of controversies surrounding medical negligence and corruption in Pakistan’s healthcare sector. In a related incident, a 22-year-old patient in Faisalabad reportedly underwent open-heart surgery during which surgical forceps were mistakenly left inside his chest. That oversight was only discovered after the patient complained of severe pain, leading to a secondary operation for removal.
Such incidents underscore the need for stringent oversight and reforms to protect patients’ rights and ensure transparency in medical procedures in public hospitals.