Excelsior Correspondent
BJP MLA alleges scam in drugs
JAMMU, Apr 2: As BJP MLA RS Pathania today alleged fraud in purchase of cancer drugs in the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo said that the Cancer Institutes and Oncology departments in Jammu and Kashmir are functioning as Day Care Centres exclusively for the administration of chemotherapy for solid tumours and these services are being provided strictly in accordance with the mandatory guidelines issued by Tata Memorial Centre (TMC).
Raising supplementaries to his question during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly, Pathania said a big fraud has been going on in purchase of cancer drugs in the GMC Jammu. He alleged that there was no Medical Oncologist posted in the GMC Jammu.
However, Sakina Itoo in written reply as well as the supplementaries raised by Pathania, said that all the standard treatment protocols are being meticulously followed for treatment of cancer patients and there is no violation of any mandatory TMC guidelines.
She countered Pathania that there was no Medical Oncologist posted in the GMC Jammu saying Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal, is the Medical Oncologist.
The Health and Medical Education Minister said there is procedure for purchase of drugs which are identified by the Head of Department (HoD) followed by approval by the Committee and tendering. The Chief Minister has also promised to increase the budget, she added.
Itoo said that chemotherapy services are being delivered as per the approved norms under the AB-PMJAY Scheme.
“The drugs which are part of Cancer Care of Health Benefit Package Ayushman Bharat PMJAY/SEHAT Scheme are being procured through JKMSCL,’’ she said, adding that all procurements of chemotherapy and supportive drugs are carried out strictly in accordance with the prescribed financial rules, procurement guidelines and established procedures through JKMSCL.
In case of non-availability of drugs, she said, local purchases are resorted to only to meet the emergent clinical requirements in the interest of patient care and such procurements are duly supported by the requisite technical justifications and approvals as per the prescribed norms.
The Minister informed that during the past two years, requests seeking relaxation or modification of existing Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs), wherever received, have been examined on merit and processed strictly as per the prescribed procedure and in consultation with the competent technical authorities.
“All procurements are being done as per the standard protocols and rules in the Health Department,’’ Itoo said.
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