Summary The initiative was spearheaded by Secretary Health and Population Department Nadia Saqib
LAHORE (Web Desk) - In a significant development for Punjab’s public healthcare sector, the Health and Population Department’s initiative to establish in-house CT Scan facilities in 24 District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospitals has successfully withstood a rigorous legal and regulatory challenge, following the dismissal of the constitutional petition by the Lahore High Court.
At the forefront of the legal proceedings, Muhammad Zeeshan Akhtar, Advocate High Court, contested the matter on behalf of M/s Vertex Medical, which emerged as the lowest successful bidder for the supply of Siemens-manufactured CT Scan Machines, globally recognized medical technology manufacturer.
The initiative was spearheaded by Secretary Health and Population Department, Nadia Saqib, who pursued the procurement of 24 CT Scan Machines with the objective of strengthening the diagnostic infrastructure of public-sector hospitals.
The initiative is expected to strengthen institutional capacity, reduce dependence on outsourced diagnostic services and provide patients with improved access to essential diagnostic facilities within public-sector hospitals. One of the most remarkable aspects of this procurement is its exceptionally competitive pricing.
However, following the initiation of the procurement process, the matter encountered a rigorous challenge and was agitated before multiple forums.
The procurement faced legal scrutiny and objections concerning its legality, technical suitability and public-interest implications, creating substantial challenges for the department’s initiative.
During the course of the proceedings, the matter was examined by the Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
Following proceedings before the Lahore High Court and the consideration of the matter at the regulatory level, the Managing Director of PPRA, Sahabzadi Wasimah Umar, played a significant role in adjudicating the procurement dispute through a considered and reasoned approach.
The matter subsequently came before the Lahore High Court in Constitutional Petition No. 66022 of 2026, filed by Eastern Medical Technology Services.
The court dismissed the petition, thereby allowing the procurement initiative to proceed without constitutional interference.
The court observed that the petitioner had failed to establish any violation of the Punjab Procurement Rules, 2014, and that the procurement did not fall within the sphere of mis-procurement.
The court also recognized that the executive was entitled to move towards in-house arrangements for providing diagnostic and medical services to the public.
The court observed that technical, financial and policy matters fall primarily within the domain of the competent executive authorities and relevant experts, rather than being matters for judicial substitution of administrative judgment.
The dismissal of the constitutional petition represents an important judicial development, sustaining the department’s initiative against a substantial legal challenge, highlighting the role of Managing Director PPRA, Sahabzadi Wasimah Umar.
M/s Vertex Medical emerged as the lowest successful bidder for the supply of 24 Siemens CT Scan Machines.
The successful completion of this procurement initiative would provide DHQ Hospitals with enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
