Justice Zafar Rajput Urges Crackdown on Healthcare Corruption
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Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput said that healthcare is not a commodity but a constitutional right under Article 9, which ensures every citizen’s right to life
KARACHI: Acting Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC), Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, issued a strong warning against the rising commercialization and corruption in Pakistan’s healthcare sector.
During his keynote address at the 5th Health Care Summit and Awards 2025, Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput said that healthcare is not a commodity but a constitutional right under Article 9, which ensures every citizen’s right to life.
The event was organized by the Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) with key stakeholders, medical professionals, diplomats, and policymakers at a local hotel in Karachi.
Speaking as the chief guest, Justice Rajput emphasized that he also invoked Article 38, stressing that the government bears the responsibility of providing healthcare to all.
“We must not allow the health sector to become prey to commercialization and corruption,” he said. “The malpractice that has plagued medicine for years is alarming and must be rooted out.”
Justice Rajput criticized the unethical relationships between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers, where doctors are incentivized with expensive foreign trips and gifts in exchange for prescribing certain brands.
“This is nothing short of bribery. There should be a complete ban on promotional practices linked to prescriptions,” he declared, adding that Pakistan has far more registered medicines than the WHO, which points to lax regulation.
He urged the government to take decisive steps to regulate the pharmaceutical industry, limit excessive drug registrations, and prioritize justice, health and education.
The event was hosted by CAP Chairman Kaukab Iqbal and attended by several high-profile figures including PPP MNA and Honorary Consul General Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, businessman and Honorary Consul General of Mozambique Khalid Tawab, DG Ministry of Foreign Affairs Karachi Irfan Soomro, and Indus Hospital CEO Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, among others.
In his address, Kaukab Iqbal criticized the Health Care Commission for failing to take action against quack doctors, profiteering hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies that inflate medicine prices.
“The practice of offering commissions must end. People are being exploited, and it’s our duty to protect their rights — even if we have to seek legal intervention,” Iqbal stated.
Dr. Ikhtiar Baig highlighted the importance of the first consumer protection law in Sindh and criticized the delay in its implementation. Khalid Tawab emphasized the urgent need for clean drinking water, linking poor water quality to the spread of hepatitis and other diseases.
Dr. Abdul Bari Khan shared the inspiring journey of Indus Hospital, which began 18 years ago with modest resources and has now expanded to 13 branches nationwide, operating with a budget of Rs. 61 billion while providing free quality care.
Other speakers also expressed concern over the rise of preventable diseases such as malaria, and the misuse of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds by companies. Advocate Javed Chhatari disclosed that 250 companies were issued notices for lack of transparency in CSR spending.
The summit concluded with the adoption of several resolutions aimed at reforming the healthcare system. Shields and awards were distributed to distinguished guests and contributors, including Justice Rajput, Kaukab Iqbal, Dr. Ikhtiar Baig, Irfan Soomro, and a long list of healthcare professionals, journalists, and social activists.
The presence of dignitaries, including the Consul General of Indonesia, underscored the international recognition of Pakistan’s growing concern for healthcare reform.
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