Non availability of life-saving drugs cause of concern, admin unmoved
Hemophilic patients across Kashmir valley continue to suffer in Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, Srinagar due to the non availability of drugs. 80 per cent of 267 patients have been crippled for life, for no fault of theirs.The Jammu and Kashmir High Court, 2011 had directed the hospital to keep the vital drugs available for hemophilic patients available for 24 hours. ‘Due to non availability of funds’, authorities say, the ‘factors’ aren’t available.
“The factors balance body’s deficiencies. When not taken, it makes a patient handicapped. And the prolonged condition disables him for a lifetime,” said, Dr Nissar Ul Hassan, President, Doctor’s Association Kashmir (DAK).
For the much treatable disease, more than Rs. 4 Crore ought to be provided by the government. The hospital receives Rs. 1.5 Crore for the same. As per the high court orders, medicine is to be provided to the hemophilic patients, even if other hospital funds get involved. However, the Medical Superintendent SMHS, Dr. Nazir Chaudhary said, “We had liabilities. We don’t have a penny now”.
When asked, when was the last time when he appealed for funds to the government he said, “I don’t remember.”
A post graduate student, Peer Shakeel of Kupwara couldn’t attend his examination on 15th Dec.
“I couldn’t go to the centre because I was bleeding. Earlier they would provide the factors for 4 months. Now they don’t even care. They are putting our future at stake.”
There are 3 factors required for the said treatment: Factor VIII, Factor IX and Factor VII. The market price of each vial costs Rs. 5000, 11000, 43000 respectively. Earlier, the patients would buy them on their own. Now they seem to have lost all the avenues.
“The MS asks us to get money and then he will provide the drugs. My wife sold all her gold. We don’t have anything now. Where do I get the money from?” said one of the patients.
“One of the patients is supposed to get his gall bladder removed. He is not able to do it because he will bleed to death in absence of the required drugs”, he added.
The substitute provided to the patients is FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma) that is provided by blood banks.
“In primitive times, FFP was used. But it has many side effects. That’s why Factors aren’t /shouldn’t be used now,” said Dr. Nisar.
“Out of 90 patients, a few got HIV AIDS, 45 became positive for Hepatitis C and 1-2 for Hepatitis B. And it has been done knowingly. Its Criminal, unethical”, he added.
The concerned patients are of the opinion that Jammu Hematology Centre also gets the same budget, however it has better infrastructure than Kashmir’s.
“Three doctors have been appointed for us. The hematology centre is at SKIMMS hospital. We were sent to SMHS but what for?”
To seek the answers to many questions raised by patients against the system, we tried to contact Lal Singh, Health Minister, Jammu and Kashmir. Singh could pick up the call during a meeting on Thursday but not after that, despite many attempts. Principal Government Medical College who has gone on a ‘protest leave’ also did not respond to our calls.
The patients continue to suffer and survive the disease, with a fear to get crippled anytime growing in their chests.
