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SC notice to Centre, states on in-house pharmacies
New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Centre, states and Union Territories on a PIL alleging patients are compelled to buy medicines from the in-house pharmacy stores of hospitals and are prevented from buying them in the open market.
A bench of Justice S.A. Bobde and Justice Nageswara Rao issued notice to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the governments of all states and Union Territories.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by practicing lawyer Vijay Pal Dalmia contended that patients admitted in private hospitals are being made to suffer considerable financial losses through the forced purchase of drugs from in-house pharmacies.
These stores sell drugs at a much higher price than other stores that usually offer discounts over MRP (maximum retail price), Dalmia said.
He sought directions to the governments to ban this malpractice and protect the interests of the buyers of medicines, medical devices and implants and medical consumables.
The advocate said as of now, “there is no law or policy framework” to prevent the misuse, fleecing and looting by hospitals, and the governments have left the people in the unscrupulous hands and regressive regime of the hospitals.
“Ban the hospitals and hospital pharmacies from compelling the patients to mandatorily buy medicines from hospitals and the hospital pharmacies only at MRP or manipulated and artificially inflated prices for profiteering also from sale of medicines, when the medicines are available at lesser and heavily discounted prices in the open market from the medical shops, retailers, dealers and distributors duly licensed and regulated by the Drug Control Department of state and central governments,” stated the plea.
The governments, despite knowing all these malpractices adopted by hospitals all over India, have shut their eyes and totally ignored the interest of the patients which they are bound to protect, it added.
It said these acts of financial malpractices are “against the humans, humanity, morality and the right of the citizens to live a dignified and respectable life”, adding that it is also obligatory on the governments to provide best and affordable healthcare to the citizens.
The advocate also said the governments should ensure that notice boards are put up at appropriate and prominent places in the hospitals and the hospital pharmacies that the patients and their attendants have the choice to purchase medicines from the vendor of their choice including the hospital pharmacy.
The advocate said his wife is suffering from breast cancer and the hospital where she is being treated has given a medicine at an MRP of about Rs 61,132, whereas the medicine manufactured and marketed by the same company is being sold in the open market at a discounted rate of Rs 50,000 for each injection.
Also, on purchase of four injections, one injection is being given free of cost to the patient, thereby bringing the effective cost to Rs 41,000 for each injection.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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