Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: In a Public Interest Litigation filed by one Kirpal Singh seeking implementation of Jan Aushadhi Scheme, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat has issued notice to Union of India through Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Union Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers, Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education Department, Divis-ional Commissioner Jammu, Director Health Services, Drug Controller, Secretary State Branch of Indian Red Cross Society and Managing Director, J&K Medical Supplies Corpo-ration returnable within two weeks.
During the course of arguments, Advocate Munish Sharma appearing for the PIL submitted that the people of poor section of the society face and suffer due to the higher cost of medicines available in the market including the problem of overcharging of cost of medicines by the private chemists during emergency and odd hours.
“More than half of the monthly income of people of poor section of the society is spent in purchasing these high priced medicines and Union of India in year 2008 launched Jan Aushadhi, a poor friendly scheme which includes opening of Jan Aushadhi stores in every Govt. Hospitals throughout the country for which the State Government has to provide rent free accommodations in the Govt Hospitals”, he said, adding “the main object of the Jan Aushadhi Scheme is to provide high quality generic medicines to be sold at low prices”.
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