The Central Government and the Mission Director of the Delhi State Health Mission submitted affidavits to the court detailing the drug stock status in Delhi and the expected future supply.
New Delhi: Today (On May 23): The Delhi High Court concluded proceedings on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the alleged non-availability of medicines at the Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis. This decision came after assurances that the current stock would suffice for a few weeks and additional supplies were on the way.
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“Given that the stock of 4 FDC (A) drugs will last for a month and 3 FDC (A) drugs for three weeks, with additional supplies in the pipeline, the petition is resolved satisfactorily,” stated a bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora in their May 21 order.
The Central Government and the Mission Director of the Delhi State Health Mission submitted affidavits to the court detailing the drug stock status in Delhi and the expected future supply.
Earlier this year, the NGO Social Jurist filed the PIL, claiming that the hospital’s only ultrasound machine was non-functional and essential medicines had been unavailable for the past six months. Advocate Ashok Agarwal, representing the petitioner, argued that due to the medicine shortage, underprivileged patients were compelled to buy medications externally.
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Previously, the Centre assured the court of proactive measures to expedite the supply of anti-TB drugs to ensure patient care was not compromised.
Regarding the ultrasound machine, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) counsel confirmed that the machine at the institute was fully functional. The MCD further clarified that a CT scan machine was unnecessary at the facility, as below-poverty-line patients are referred to Hindu Rao Hospital for free scans. Other patients can access scans for Rs 1,500, a cost typically covered by an NGO.
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On April 23, the court instructed the MCD to expedite the procurement of an ultrasound machine for the TB hospital and ensure its operational status within 15 days. Additionally, the court requested the central and city authorities to clarify the availability of TB medicines at the hospital amid allegations of a “global shortage” of certain drugs.
Noting a “disconnect between the Centre, Delhi government, and MCD,” the court directed counsel for the Union and State governments to provide updates on the availability of TB medicines.
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