SRINAGAR The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday sought response from State government for issuing guidelines and modifying the Central scheme which aims at making quality medicines available at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor and disadvantaged, through exclusive outlets Jan Aushadhi Medical Stores so as to reduce out-of-pocket expenses in healthcare.
The Public Interest Litigation filed by one Muzaffar Hussain Bhat also seeks directions for setting up PMBJK in J&K. For this purpose, he also seeks directions for reserving space within the government hospitals at all levels.
According to counsel for the petitioner Mohsin Qadri changing or modifying is not permissible. The Court said the government shall positively examine the grievance of the petitioner.
The petitioner seeks directions for giving wide publication of the scheme as also seeks publishing the comparative rate list as provided under the scheme.
The court has already issued the notice to the Union Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers as also state of J&K through its Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education department.
The Court also issued notice to Director Health Services Kashmir and Jammu, Principals GMC Srinagar and Jammu, Medical Superintendents SMHS Hospital and allied hospitals Srinagar, and Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital Jammu.
While states additional advocate general Shah Aamir accepted notice on behalf of state government, Advocate Nazir Ahmad Bhat as standing counsel accepted notice for Union Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
The Court had also issued notice to Bureau of Pharma, a Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India.
In September 2015, the ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ was revamped as ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana’ (PMJAY). In November, 2016, to give further impetus to the scheme, it was again renamed as “Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana” (PMBJP).
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses.
The petitioner has prayed for courts directions for the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyajna Kendra and also for setting up Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna Kendra in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Further, he has sought directions to the respondents for setting up and reserving the space within the Government Hospitals at all levels in the State for setting up of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyajna Kendra.
The respondent be further directed, to give wide publication of the scheme including its implementation and the process of making scheme functional, the petitioner said, adding, Besides publishing the comparative rate list as provided under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyajna Kendra price list in comparison with the market price list for the public awareness and propagation of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyajna Kendra.
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