Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, July 30: A number of Government hospitals across the State have been facing acute shortage of drugs, including emergency medicines and even dressing material as there was virtually no supply by the Central Stores of the Director of Health Jammu as well as Kashmir.
Non-availability of dressing gauge, cotton, surgical pads and emergency drugs have badly affected functioning of the Government run health centers where the doctors and para-medical staff are finding it extremely difficult to treat the patients, particularly during the emergency hours.
Further, due to zero availability of test kits, no laboratory tests even of emergency nature are being conducted in these Government hospitals thus forcing the patients to go to the private labs.
According to the authoritative sources, no in-bulk purchases were made by the Directorate of Health, Jammu as well as Directorate of Health Kashmir during the last four months for further supply to various Health Centers across the State.
The indecisiveness of the Government in purchasing even the essential emergency items and drugs for the hospitals was attributed to post spurious drug scam fear psychosis as the concerned authorities have become ultra cautious and preferred no work no risk, sources explained.
It may be recalled that a spurious drug scam had surfaced in the Department of Health in April last when random samples of antibiotic Maxmizane turned out to be containing zero milligram of basic salt Amoxicillin. The failed sample was supposed to be containing the combination of 500 milligram of Amoxicillin, Trihydrate and Potassium Clavunate.
While the infamous scam invited a high-level probe and consequent investigation of the case by Crime Branch of J&K Police, the incident also led to unofficial suspension of all bulk supplies by the Directorates of Health where several rate contracts were either already expired or nearing expiry.
This resulted into acute shortage of essential emergency items, drugs and test kits in all the hospitals, which have been left with no option than to make temporary arrangements through small local purchases from hospital development fund, sources said.
The paucity of emergency items can be gauged from the fact that there is nil balance of test kits in the Central stores of Directorate Health Jammu/Kashmir as no procurement of the same has been made since last year after the rate contract expired, sources disclosed. Similarly, no in-bulk procurement of cotton was made by the Directorate since last year.
To meet the requirement in wake of Amarnath pilgrimage, sources disclosed that first aid items and other emergency material as well as drugs were procured by the Directorates of Health through local purchases in small quantum worth Rs 25 thousand each, last month.
The Directorate of Jammu is learnt to have recently initiated process for procurement of some emergency drugs and other items while efforts are being made to supply the same to various Health centers in next few days. However, the procurement is not sufficient enough to meet the demand while no decision has yet been taken on purchase of test kits, sources explained adding that the committee constituted to purchase the material did not meet even for once till date.
When contacted, the Minister of State for Health (Independent Charge), Shabir Ahmed Khan however, claimed that there was no deficiency of medicines and other material in the hospitals. “I didn’t get such complaint during the last review meeting of Health institutions in Jammu on July10. However, even if there is any problem of this nature, we will ensure that adequate supply is made so that patients may not suffer,” he said.
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