Hurdles being created in establishment of 24X7 pharmacies in health institutions

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 5: Notwithstanding the directions of the High Court, hurdles are being created in the establishment of 24X7 pharmacy shops in the Government hospitals in Jammu Province, which otherwise would be of immense help for the patients both in terms of convenience and financially.
In the interest of patients, e-tenders were floated by Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited as per requisition of Director Health Services Jammu for opening and running of 24X7 pharmacy shops in Government hospitals in Jammu Province in the year 2015, official sources told the EXCELSIOR.
M/s Sanyog Pharmacy, a venture of Sanyog Enterprises (P) Ltd, was declared as successful bidder in the e-tendering process as per the Purchase Committee of the JKMSCL and Letter of Intent (LoI) was issued to M/s Sanyog, which even deposited Rs 21.51 crores in the account of JKMSCL.
M/s Sanyog Enterprises was allotted 55 pharmacies across various locations in Jammu Province by the Managing Director, JKMSCL for which an agreement was also executed between JKMSCL and Sanyog Enterprises.
In March 2016, Principal GMC, Jammu allowed M/s Sanyog Enterprises to erect pre-fabricated structures at the various locations including SMGS Hospital Jammu for running 24X7 pharmacies. Accordingly, M/s Sanyog Enterprises erected pre-fabricated structures in GMC Jammu, Super Specialty Hospital and Psychiatric Hospital.
In the meanwhile, establishment of these pharmacies by M/s Sanyog was challenged before the High Court through a Public Interest Litigation. However, Division Bench of the State High Court delivered judgment in the favour of establishment of pharmacies with the direction to the Health Department to provide proper cooperation.
For opening and running of 24X7 pharmacy shop, the Medical Superintendent of SMGS Hospital allotted M/s Sanyog an area near gate number 2. However, when M/s Sanjog Enterprises started the work some miscreants created trouble and even damaged the flooring.
“Some people are intentionally creating hurdles in establishment of pharmacies on frivolous grounds as such attempting to deprive the patients of medicines on discounted rates”, an official of M/s Sanyog Enterprises told EXCELSIOR, adding “they are also leveling false allegations of supplying drugs of low quality despite the fact that we are the retailers and not the manufacturers. Moreover, we are purchasing the medicines in bulk directly from the top pharmaceutical companies as we are running such pharmacies even in other parts of North India”.
They have appealed the Government to ensure smooth establishment of pharmacies so that benefit could be provided to the patients not only in Jammu but in areas like Bhaderwah, Marwah, Mendhar, Gool, Mahore, Bani, Basohli and Darhal etc, where M/s Sanyog Enterprises is going to establish such units in near future as per the contract signed with JKMSCL.