| HC seeks response from central, State Govts within 2 weeks | | PIL seeking implementation of Jan Aushadhi Scheme | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 27: In a PIL seeking implementation of Jan Aushadhi Scheme, a high court division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat today issued notice to Union of India through Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers, Commissioner of Health and Medical Education Department, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Director Health Services, Jammu, Drug Controller, Jammu, Secretary of state branch of Indian Red Cross Society and Managing Director of J&K Medical Suppliers Corporation returnablewithin two weeks and also sought response from them.
Counsel appearing for PIL submitted that poor people suffer due to the higher cost of medicines available in the market and alleged that some chemists had been indulging in overcharging during emergency and odd hours.
"The poor are spending more than half of their monthly income on purchase of these high priced medicines. Union of India in 2008 had launched Jan Aushadhi Scheme for the poor, according to which Jan Aushadhi stores are to be opened in every government hospital throughout the country for which the state government has to provide rent free accommodations in government hospitals," he added.
He submitted that the main object of Jan Aushadhi Scheme was to provide high quality generic medicines at low prices. Such medicines would be equivalent in potency and efficacy to expensive branded drugs and under the scheme, Jan Aushadhi stores were to be operated by NGOs and charitable bodies identified by the state government, he added. |
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