The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has sought the personal appearance of Managing Director (MD) of J&K and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) after it was informed that non-availability of essential medicines used in the treatment of hemophilia at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar was due to dilatory approach of the corporation.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani directed the JKMSCL’s MD to appear in person on September 7 to explain the position regarding the procurement and supply of Factor VIII and Emicizumab, the two medicines required by Hemophilia patients.
The Court’s direction came following an affidavit filed by the Principal, GMC Srinagar, indicating that the procurement of Factor VIII and Emicizumab was taken up with JKMSCL, but despite repeated reminders, the Corporation had not responded. The affidavit was filed in compliance with the court’s order dated July 13.
Besides JKMSCL’s inaction, the affidavit attested to the shortage of the two medicines and their dire need at GMC Srinagar and GMC Jammu.
Taking note of the lack of response from the procurement agency, the bench observed that it appeared that the issue had remained unresolved because of the slackness on the part of JKMSCL, resulting in delay in procurement of the medicines.
The MD JKMSCL has also been directed to file an affidavit in advance setting out how the corporation responded to the requirements projected by both GMC Srinagar and GMC Jammu concerning Factor VIII and Emicizumab.
The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking court’s intervention to direct the authorities to immediately ensure uninterrupted availability and supply of anti-haemophilic drugs and essential clotting factor concentrates to Government Medical College, Srinagar and all other designated treatment centers across the Jammu & Kashmir
The PIL highlights the complete non-availability of the essential life-saving drugs like Factor VIII, Factor IX and Von Willebrand factor drugs, underlining that the patients in Jammu and Kashmir have to undergo a great deal of tribulations to get these drugs.
Moreover, the PIL seeks to release without any further delay, the entire quantity of antihemophilic drugs lying stocked with Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd to the concerned hospitals as per annual and supplementary requisitions raised by the concerned agencies.
