HC cracks whip on ‘medical corruption’
Asks govt to monitor diagnostic centres, publicize cost of stents, check over-charging on drugs and diagnostics
Srinagar, Apr 24: With a view to prevent “fleecing” of patients by the diagnostic centers, the J&K High Court today directed the government to properly monitor these centers so that their “unfair practices” especially “overcharging” are put to an end.
A division bench directed for proper monitoring of the diagnostic centers including the cancer-detecting centers in the state so that any unfair practice and overcharging by these centers is prevented.
“Diagnostic centers review and management be done fortnightly and report filed to the court,” directed a division bench of the court.
The court also directed the authorities to examine as to whether these centers are operating in tune with the provisions of law and also ascertain their registration.
It also sought a report as to whether these centers are functioning on the basis of standard specifics.
The bench directed the Commissioner Secretary Health and Family Welfare Education to issue wide publicity to the costs of coronary stents available in the hospitals in the state.
It reminded of a notification by the National Pharmaceutical Authority of India (NPAI) and directed the State government to act on the notification and publicize the cost of stents.
The notification had put a ceiling on the price for coronary stents after thorough consultation with the manufacturers and the experts.
It fixed Rs 7260 as ceiling price for Bare Metal Stent and Rs 29600 for Drug Eluting Stents (DES) including metallic DES and Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS)/Biodegradable stents.
According to the Union Health Ministry, in its affidavit filed through its Assistant Solicitor General, the notification/circular has communicated to all the hospitals in the state.
On charging price of drugs above stipulated prices, the court asked the State government to inform it about the number of complaints received against such chemists and action taken thereof.
The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against medical corruption in Jammu and Kashmir by doctors, chemists and the technical experts at diagnostic centers.
On October 26, 2016, the High Court took a suo-moto cognizance of write-ups published in ‘newspapers on ‘medical corruption’ and issued a notice to Government of India and the State government while treating the articles as PIL.
Rashid Paul is Associate Editor at Kashmir Images.
He can be reached at [email protected]
