LAHORE: Justice Raheel Kamran Sheikh of the Lahore High Court has dismissed petitions filed by the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and other private healthcare providers, affirming the Punjab Healthcare Commission’s legal authority to regulate and fix medical prices across the province.
In a comprehensive 24-page judgment, Justice Sheikh emphasized that the Punjab Healthcare Commission possesses full legal empowerment to oversee pricing for hospitals, laboratories, and various medical facilities. The court clarified that healthcare is not merely a commercial commodity but a fundamental human right essential for dignity and well-being.
The ruling underscored that, under the Constitution, access to timely and affordable healthcare is a constitutional right, and the state has an obligation to ensure that quality medical services are accessible to all citizens. Justice Sheikh noted that this obligation extends to regulating private healthcare providers to prevent exploitation and ensure standards.
The petitioners, including representatives of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, argued that the Punjab Healthcare Commission Act of 2010 only authorized hospitals to display their prices, not regulate them. They also claimed that the provincial government lacked authority to impose such regulations on institutions operating across provincial boundaries. Some institutions contended that the price controls were introduced without sufficient evidence of overcharging.
Responding to these arguments, the Punjab government’s legal team stated that health regulation falls within provincial jurisdiction. The Commission’s counsel added that regulating prices is vital for maintaining service quality and preventing exploitation. The court agreed, emphasizing that diagnostic laboratories are integral to healthcare and that price regulation is within the legal scope.
Justice Sheikh concluded that regulating medical prices is in the public interest, safeguarding citizens from financial exploitation. As a result, all the petitions were dismissed as inadmissible, with the court reaffirming the authority of the Punjab Healthcare Commission in this matter.
