The adjudication on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressing purported scarcities of medications at the Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis in this city has been terminated by the Delhi High Court. This decision followed revelations that the current inventory within the metropolis would suffice for a brief span, with additional provisions en route.
Affidavits from the Central government and the Mission Director of the Delhi State Health Mission were submitted, delineating the current pharmaceutical holdings within Delhi’s depots and outlining forthcoming deliveries. The Social Jurist NGO, in its earlier PIL, alleged that the lone ultrasound apparatus at the hospital was inoperative, and vital drugs had been unavailable for half a year.
Legal representative Ashok Agarwal, advocating for the petitioner, argued that underprivileged patients were compelled to procure medications externally due to apprehensions of insufficiencies. “Considering the adequacy of the existing inventory, with a month’s worth of supply for the 4 FDC (A) drug and three weeks for the 3 FDC (A) drug, along with pending supplies, the present petition is hereby deemed resolved,” ruled a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora in their decree pronounced on May 21.
Previously, the Central government had assured the court of proactive measures to expedite the dispensation of anti-TB medications, aiming to uphold patient welfare at the grassroots level. Regarding the ultrasound apparatus, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) counsel affirmed its operational status.
The MCD additionally asserted that a CT scan apparatus was unnecessary, as indigent patients were referred to Hindu Rao Hospital for complimentary scans, while others were charged Rs 1,500, typically sponsored by an NGO. On April 23, the court directed the MCD to accelerate the acquisition process for an ultrasound machine for its TB facility and ensure its functionality within 15 days.
Furthermore, the court requested clarifications from both central and municipal authorities regarding the availability of TB medications for hospital patients following claims of a “global shortage” of specific drugs. Observing a perceived discrepancy between the central government, Delhi administration, and MCD, the court instructed legal representatives of the Union and the State government to ascertain the status of TB medication availability.
