Srinagar: Taking serious note of the reported shortage of life-saving anti-hemophilic medicines, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the Principal, Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, to immediately address the deficiency of Factor VIII and Emicizumab, observing that no patient should suffer due to the non-availability of these critical drugs.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani passed the directions while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (WP(C) PIL No. 8/2025) filed by the Hemophilia Society of Kashmir through its president. The petitioner was represented by Senior Advocate T.H. Khawaja, who was assisted by Advocate Naseer-ul-Akbar.
During the hearing, Khawaja informed the court that an acute shortage of Factor VIII and Emicizumab at GMC Srinagar has adversely affected nearly 300 hemophilia patients, many of whom depend entirely on government healthcare facilities for regular treatment.
The Bench directed the Principal, GMC Srinagar, to ensure that the deficiency is removed without delay so that no patient is deprived of treatment.
The court further ordered that if any requisition for these medicines has already been placed by the Principal, it must be responded to forthwith by the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) or any other authority responsible for procurement and supply, without any avoidable delay.
The court also directed the Principal, GMC Srinagar, to file an affidavit within two weeks, detailing the steps taken to restore the availability of the medicines.
Meanwhile, respondents have been granted four weeks to file their response to an additional affidavit submitted by the petitioner. The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 10, 2026.
The latest order comes against the backdrop of the High Court’s earlier observations in the PIL, wherein it had described the issue as a “sensitive matter” requiring immediate attention.
The court had then highlighted the reported non-availability of essential clotting factors, including Factor VIII, Factor IX and Von Willebrand factor concentrates, and sought a detailed report from the Managing Director of JKMSCL.
The PIL seeks directions for ensuring uninterrupted availability of anti-hemophilic medicines at GMC Srinagar and other designated treatment centres across Jammu and Kashmir, besides the immediate release of available drug stocks lying with JKMSCL in accordance with requisitions raised by the health authorities.
The case has assumed significance as hemophilia patients require uninterrupted access to clotting factor therapy to prevent potentially life-threatening bleeding episodes and long-term complications.
