SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has ordered the Jammu Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd (JKMSCL) to submit a comprehensive affidavit detailing the supply of essential anti-haemophilic drugs to Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar for the current financial year. This directive comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that has brought to light a significant shortage of critical medicines across the Union Territory.
The Chenab Times has learned that a Division Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal, has set a deadline of April 29 for the JKMSCL to file its affidavit. The court also granted the petitioner’s counsel, advocate Iman Muiz, permission to submit an additional affidavit in reply to the compliance reports previously filed by the concerned authorities.
The PIL, initiated in August of the previous year, highlights the urgent need for judicial intervention to guarantee the uninterrupted availability and supply of anti-haemophilic drugs. These include vital clotting factor concentrates such as Factor VIII, Factor IX, and Von Willebrand factor, intended for GMC Srinagar and other designated treatment centres throughout Jammu and Kashmir. Furthermore, the petition seeks immediate release of all such drugs currently held in JKMSCL stocks to hospitals, in line with both annual and supplementary requisitions submitted by relevant agencies.
During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioner informed the court about a two-fold grievance: the complete absence of anti-haemophilic drugs in hospitals, despite budgetary sanctions and approvals, and persistent systemic flaws in the processes governing requisition, procurement, and supply. The court was apprised that these delays and procedural irregularities have led to severe hardships for patients suffering from haemophilia, who are struggling to access life-saving treatments.
The petition also referenced an official communication dated February 12, 2025, from the Head of the Pathology Department at GMC Srinagar to the Principal. This document outlined an annual demand for anti-haemophilic drugs valued at approximately Rs 31.91 crore. The prolonged delay in fulfilling this demand has raised serious concerns regarding administrative inefficiency and lapses in the supply chain management system.
Arguments presented to the court indicated that even when life-saving drugs are available in JKMSCL’s inventory, their prompt release to hospitals has been hampered, thereby exacerbating the crisis. Both counsels underscored the critical nature of timely intervention, emphasizing that continued delays and inconsistencies in procurement and distribution place the lives of haemophilia patients at significant risk. The administration of clotting factors is crucial for preventing severe complications and ensuring patient survival.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the High Court has demanded a clear account from the JKMSCL regarding the quantity and status of drug supplies provided to GMC Srinagar during the ongoing financial year. The court recognized that the matter has profound implications for public health, necessitating accountability and swift corrective measures.
The Chenab Times News Desk