The District Administration has refuted media reports claiming that there is a shortfall of medicines in Jammu and Kashmir due to ongoing restrictions in the state. They said that against the claim made in a News 18 report that the government-run hospital is running out of medicines, they have reported the availability of medicines for 5-6 weeks. The Twitter handle of the administration posted a stock list of SMHS hospital in Srinagar, showing that there is enough stock of medicines there.
The SMHS quoted in the story has reported availability of medicines for 5-6 weeks. Medical Superintendent has expressed concern about doctors of hospitals being quoted wrongly, notwithstanding their efforts for 24×7 health services delivery. https://t.co/nbwmkmBXpq pic.twitter.com/WZQgtDondk
— Srinagar district administration (@srinagaradmin) August 26, 2019
The district administration also said that the News 18 report claiming that doctors at the SMHS hospital had warned about shortage of medicine is not correct. The report had quoted doctors in the hospital saying that if people who are on lifesaving medicines don’t get their medicine on time, they will die.
None of the Doctors at SMHS spoke to said reporter. Hospital has requested the Reporter to come clear on this mischievous headline. Details of stocks availability already posted above. @svaradarajan pic.twitter.com/cdLkbgxJWb
— Srinagar district administration (@srinagaradmin) August 26, 2019
But the district administration has said that none of the doctors at the SMHS spoke to the reporter. They also posted a letter by the Medical Superintendent saying that the hospital has sufficient quantity of life saving medicines and no doctor has complained about lack of medicines.
A statement issued by the Office of the Deputy Drug Controller informs that medicines worth ₹ 31.76 crore have been supplied to pharma dealers and distributors in the state in last 35 days, from July 20 to August 23, and stocks were being replenished regularly. The supplied medicines include a wide range of drugs from all categories including antibiotics, anti-diabetic, proton pump inhibitors, anti-hypertensives, antacids, NSAIDs, anticancer drugs, cardiovascular drugs, anti-tuberculars, anti-depressants, psychotropics among other lifesaving drugs. Some distributors in Kashmir are sourcing medicines from Jammu on their own effort, and many stockists and distributors are procuring drugs from manufacturers, Super Stockists, distributors located outside the state also.
Here’s Drug Controller report: Medicines worth ₹ 31.76 Cr supplied to #Kashmir pharma dealers/ distributors in last 35 days. Regular replenishment done. DC Srinagar @listenshahid https://t.co/iPssaMWTBp pic.twitter.com/xVMTWx7ZBP
— Srinagar district administration (@srinagaradmin) August 26, 2019
They have informed that this was ascertained after teams of Drug Control officers were deputed to depots, C&Fs and consignees of major pharmaceutical companies to collect the relevant data regarding supplies of medicines and pharmaceutical drug formulations made to pharma dealers and distributors across the Kashmir valley in the last one month.
The Deputy Drugs Controller informed that special efforts are being made to ensure and facilitate timely supply of medicines which require specialised storage conditions to authorised stockists and stakeholders in the Kashmir valley.
Apart from private medicine stores, all outlets of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadi are fully operational at different locations in Srinagar and have sufficient stocks of all categories of drugs. In addition to this, there are 39 outlets operational under the PMJAY scheme in the Kashmir division catering to those in need.
The Department has said that it is in constant touch with heads of all health institutions of the valley to assess their availability and requirement of medicines. It said any instances of unavailability of medicines are dealt with on priority, they assured.
