*Medical emergency ignored despite HC directions
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 9: In a deeply distressing development, Hemophilia-B patients across Jammu and Kashmir continue to suffer as Anti-Hemophilic Factor IX – a critical, life-saving drug – has remained completely unavailable at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and its associated hospitals for nearly one year. For these patients, many of whom are children and young adults, every single day has become a struggle for survival.
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Due to repeated and untreated bleeding episodes, several patients have been forced to abandon their education. Many now face permanent joint deformities and irreversible physical disability. Every passing moment poses a serious threat, as both internal and external bleeding can turn fatal within minutes without timely Factor IX infusion.
Despite repeated appeals to the Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL), patients’ attendants said no concrete action has been taken. Both the 500 IU and 600 IU strengths of Factor IX have remained out of supply for almost a year, pushing these families into a desperate medical emergency – a humanitarian crisis that continues to go unnoticed by those responsible.
Alarmed over the continuous administrative neglect, Hemophilia Society Kashmir was compelled to approach the Jammu & Kashmir High Court in July 2025. Taking serious note, the High Court issued categorical directions to the Medical Education Department and JKMSCL, instructing them to ensure immediate supply of Anti-Hemophilic drugs, including Factor IX. Yet, despite the Court’s intervention, the ground reality remains unchanged. Patients across Government hospitals still do not have access to these essential medicines.
“This inaction is nothing short of playing with the lives of innocent patients,” said Aakash Kohli, president, Hemophilia Federation Jammu. “Patients are repeatedly coming to hospitals with joint, muscle and internal organ bleeding, but not a single vial of life-saving Anti-Hemophilic Factor IX is available anywhere in Government hospitals in J&K. If any untoward incident happens, the concerned authorities will be directly responsible.”
Hemophilia, Aakash Kohli stressed, is not a condition that can wait. Every hour of delay in treatment is a potential death sentence. “This is not just a health crisis, it’s a humanitarian disaster unfolding silently,” Kohli said, adding, “The administration must act before lives are lost.”
A doctor who is part of the committee formed by GMC Jammu for procurement of Anti-Hemophilia medicines confirmed, on the condition of anonymity, that Factor IX is unavailable. He said that since May, GMC Jammu has had no stock of the drug. A few doses were arranged locally in between, but those barely lasted one month. He said orders have been placed with JKMSCL and the committee is hopeful of receiving the supply soon.
However, there has been no clear official response from the procurement agency. Tariq Hussain Ganai, who is presently holding charge of Managing Director, JK Medical Supplies Corporation Limited, did not respond to repeated calls or text messages seeking an official statement regarding the status of Factor IX drugs.
Meanwhile, families of young Hemophilia-B patients said they are being pushed into trauma – financially, emotionally, and medically. Many parents said they are living in constant fear, unsure whether their children will survive a bleeding episode.
As the crisis deepens, parents of the patients warned that the failure to restore supply immediately may result in irreversible damage, disability, and avoidable deaths. For now, hundreds of Hemophilia-B patients in J&K continue their wait – uncertain, unprotected, and unheard.
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