That out of 69 drug samples, 11 were found and declared sub-standard and misbranded which were routinely supplied by the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. to various hospitals in the State, is simply shocking beyond description. It may be noted that JKMSCL is a Government agency and has been indulging in this sheer irregularity giving room to suspicions and speculations of being all done for some “considerations”. None else than the State Health and Medical Education Department itself has deposed before the State High Court, with this startling revelation.
Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice AlokAradhe has directed for providing particulars of the officers who had approved such drugs for sale and supply which curiously was not mentioned in the affidavit submitted in the court by the Principal Secretary to Health and Medical Education. The Court was hearing suo-motu cognizance on an open letter addressed by one G. S. Grewal President of Punjab Medical Council to the Prime Minister which was published in various news papers as well.
In 2017-18, out of 3145 dug samples in the State, 69 were found as sub-standard which included 30 samples from Jammu division and 51 samples from Kashmir division including from the hospitals. Out of the sub-standard drugs seven drugs were supplied by the Government Agency, the JKMSCL. These included antibiotics and life saving drugs. This is what we call as “Medical Corruption” directly affecting the health of the people, even to the extent of causing death as inferior lifesaving drugs are unworthy of prescribing and sale for patients otherwise needing the same but genuine ones to survive. We wish the culprits get adequate punishment from the Court.
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