In Kashmir hospitals, there is shortage of life saving drugs, attendants accompanying patients in various hospitals said.
They alleged that they are being forced to purchase life saving drugs from open markets on exorbitant rates.
Reports said that life-saving drugs for diabetes, heart and cancer patients are now in short supply in the Kashmir Valley, with many foreboding a medical emergency if no supplies arrive in the next few days.
A couple of attendants said that Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital told them categorically that they don’t have any budget right now to procure life saving drugs. “We were aghast over the response of the Medical Superintendent. Patients are suffering immensely while poor are unable to get the desire drugs,” they said.
They said that it is a wrong notion that clampdown has caused a shortage of life-saving drugs. “The fact is that the hospital authorities are unwilling to procure these drugs for the reasons known to them.”
The Super Specialty hospital adjacent to SMHS at Shereen Bagh is also short of life saving drugs, said a group of attendants.
Medical Superintendent Dr Nazir Chowdary refuted the assertions made by attendants saying there is no shortage of life saving drugs. “Attendants can’t differentiate between a life saving and ordinary drug. How can they claim there is shortage of drugs,” he questioned.