Hearing on a public interest litigation against alleged financial irregularities and shortage of medicines in Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendras, the Uttarakhand High Court has issued notices to the pharmaceutical secretary, government of India, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India, State health secretary, state and Nainital district Red Cross societies and sought detailed replies within 21 days.
Haldwani resident social worker Amit Kholiya had filed the PIL stating that the PM Narendra Modi had launched Janaushadhi Kendras on July 1, 2015 to enable the poor to buy generic medicines in government hospitals for less than the market price.
The Red Cross Society was handed over the responsibility of managing these centres to ensure their effective functioning and ensure its benefit to the general public.
However, for quite some time now the condition of Janaushadhi Kendras is such that various medicines are not available despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Due to this, the people are forced to buy costly medicines from the market while the Janaushadhi Kendras remain little more than show pieces, the petitioner has contended.
The petitioner has also sought that the management of these centres be given to some other organisation instead of the Red Cross Society.
Hearing the petition, the court issued notices to the parties concerned and sought a detailed reply within 21 days.
