Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 26: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today in a suo moto cognizance issued notices to Central and State Governments on medical corruption.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey issued notice to Government of India and Medical Council of India and Commissioner Secretary to Health & Medical Education Department J&K Government on medical corruption.
Court took cognizance of an open letter published in a newspaper that has been written by one G S Grewal and is addressed to the Prime Minister. He has referred to exorbitant pricing of drugs, cuts and commission by doctors and referring patients for diagnostic tests and medical examination without the actual need.
Garewal while writing to PM has observed that there is urgent need to purge the health care system and make it affordable and urged for a legislation with its strict implementation which alone can act as strong deterrent against the ‘medical corruption, cheating and fraud.
The letter says that in absence of a strong law, desperate and helpless patients will continue to get exploited, fleeced and even stripped of their possessions, earnings and savings.
Court after going through the letter observed that this court as a responsible constitutional authority and to uphold and preserve the constitutional rights of a sizeable section of population embedded in particular in Article 21 of the Constitution of India cannot shut its eyes and abdicate the constitutional duty but has to stand up to safeguard the legal and constitutional rights of large section of population most of whom cannot not afford to approach this court.
It is also highlighted that there is ‘massive difference’ in the actual price of medicines and the MRP mentioned in the packet of drugs. The difference is as much as 500% and at times even more. Regulating of the drug price has been emphasized.
It has also been highlighted that sometimes referring doctors or a group is paid as much as 50% cut of medical treatment charges of the patient.
“In view of above referred circumstances the medical treatment has become very expensive rather unaffordable for majority of population across the country”, court said while taking suo moto cognizance of the matter.
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