Union as well as State Health Ministers have miserably failed to take even those corrective measures that need no funds from the governments and can also help the governments to deliver more without allocating additional funds. Section-24 of J&K lays down that The State shall make every effort to safeguard and promote the health of the people by advancing public hygiene and by prevention of disease ….. by ensuring widespread, efficient and free medical services throughout the State and, with particular emphasis, in its remote and backward regions . But it is a no hidden fact that in government hospitals ( even Jammu / Srinagar Medical College Hospitals /Emergency) most of the patients are being asked to even buy common syringes and cotton from the market. The other day a sick Sadhu was asked to buy ordinary medicines, drip set, IV fluids from the market even in Jammu Medical College Hospital. Surely the so bad delivery of health services from Government hospitals is not only due to acute paucity of funds and man power but surely more due to lack of commitment for delivering services.
Bali Bhagat J&K Health Minister .has promised for improving the quality and quantity of the services to the extent of introducing ethics in prescription writing / promoting Jan Aushadi Store programme as well as making Audit on Prescriptions written by government doctors a regular feature and proving free medicines / utilities in government hospitals , but the commitment has to be tested on ground ( wish him all success).
With the conditions in hand, it appears that the allopathic drug manufacturers and prescription writers have succeeded in checking the Union and State Governments even from promoting the sale of allopathic drugs through Jan Aushadi Stores. Had it not been so the Union Health Minister would have laid more stress on the sale of Essential drugs through the Jan Aushadi Stores and controlling the price of 348 essential drugs than talking of super specialty hospitals and increasing the PG seats in the private medical colleges. By promoting Jan Aushadi Stores and Essential drugs even the Government would be able to provide 5 to 6 times more quality medicines and utilities within the same grants to government hospitals in case the 348 notified essential drugs are procured / promoted through writing prescription by chemical / generic name.
The surveys and studies have shown world over that more than 85% to 90 % of the sick population suffers from common ailments that could be treated in 90 % cases by a group of common and easily drugs, categorized as “Essential Drugs” by World health organization as well as Ministry of Health GOI falling under the category of International Non Proprietary Name ( INN) class. Since any one can manufacture these drug the costs of manufacturing these drugs are very very low. But still many drug manufacturers have been and are selling these drugs under brand names at even 5 to 6 times the likely genuine price. A drug like Amlodipine salt genuinely worth just for MRP of Rs.12 may be marked with MRP of Rs.50 of even more and sold with the help of doctors writing prescription by brand name and not generic / chemical name or even a brand that is marked with genuine MRP thereby putting atleast more than Rs 1 Lakh crore burden on the suffering community.
(Daya Sagar is Sr Journalist & social activist dayasagr45@yahoo.com 9419796096.