The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed a petition challenging the Punjab Health and Population Department’s procurement of 24 CT scan machines for District Headquarters (DHQ) hospitals, clearing the way for the initiative to move forward.
The petition, filed by Eastern Medical Technology Services, raised objections to the legality, technical suitability and public-interest implications of the procurement process.
Vertex Medical emerged as the lowest successful bidder for the supply of CT scan machines. The company was represented during the legal proceedings by Muhammad Zeeshan Akhtar Advocate.
The initiative aims to strengthen diagnostic facilities in public-sector hospitals, reduce reliance on outsourced services and improve patients’ access to essential medical investigations.
In its decision, the LHC observed that the petitioner had failed to establish a violation of the Punjab Procurement Rules, 2014, or demonstrate that the procurement constituted mis-procurement. The court also recognised the executive’s authority to introduce in-house arrangements for diagnostic and medical services.
The court further noted that technical, financial and policy matters primarily fall within the purview of the relevant executive authorities and subject-matter experts, rather than requiring the judiciary to substitute its judgment for that of the administration.
The procurement dispute was also examined by the Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA). Its Managing Director, Sahabzadi Wasimah Umar, played a role in addressing the matter at the regulatory level through the authority’s proceedings.
The dismissal of the petition marks a significant development for the department’s plan to equip 24 DHQ hospitals with in-house CT scan facilities. Once implemented, the initiative is expected to enhance hospitals’ diagnostic capacity and improve the availability of medical imaging services for patients across Punjab.
