Lahore grieves over heart pill deaths

About 46,000 needy patients like him received the drugs in December. Within days some were bleeding profusely. Within weeks there were deaths.

Initially doctors suspected dengue fever, not faulty drugs. Patients weren’t warned until 11 January.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Punjab Institute for Cardiology, Professor Muhammad Azhar, has been removed from his post, while investigations are carried out.

Seven other officials at the hospital have been suspended.

Before his removal, Professor Azhar told BBC News that an earlier response could have saved more lives, but insisted staff acted as quickly as possible.

“We did not see this complication before,” said Professor Azhar, a slight, wiry man wearing green surgical scrubs, and a stethoscope.

“It took us 10 to 15 days to connect it to our medicine,” he said.

“The minute we knew, we took action. God forbid it ever happens again we will be much quicker next time.”

State-run hospitals like his are compelled to buy the cheapest drugs available. But Professor Azhar stressed that the suspect drugs came from regular suppliers, used for years – without incident.