Govt fails to ensure timely procurement of hemophilia drugs at GMC Sgr

Srinagar, Nov 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has failed to ensure on time procurement of anti-hemophilia drugs for GMC Srinagar’s Haemophilia Day Care Centre at SMHS hospital putting the lives of patients at risk of fatalities.
The day care centre frequently faces shortages of Factor-8 and Factor-9 drugs, leaving patients without essential medicines and exposing them to a heightened risk of fatalities.
Syed Majid, President, Hemophilia Society of Kashmir, said the hospital often faces shortage of anti-haemophilia drugs due to non-seriousness of the medical college and Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) and concerned stakeholders.
“Currently, the anti-hemophilia drugs like Factor 8 (250 mg) (1000 mg), 9 and 7 are about to exhaust which will put the lives of patients at risk of fatalities. Once the drugs are exhausted, the patients are at high risk,” he said.
The GMC Srinagar has not received the buffer stock and supplementary despite the fact that the medical college has sent the required requisition to the JKMSCL two months ago.
Majid said the number of hemophilia patients over the years has increased from 300 to 450 which require an increase in drugs and they are at risk of bleeding due to shortage of drugs.
“Hemophilia is itself a medical emergency and the patients suffer owing to the delay in procurement of requisitioned drugs at JKMSCL level. Timely availability of drugs is the only way which saves patients from any adversity and deformity,” he said.
Hemophilia patients complain that over the years, the concerned authorities have failed to frame a policy for them due to which they often suffer.
“The unnecessary prolonging the issues at the hands of concerned authorities and their staff need to curb this approach so that the life-saving drugs are made available,” he said.
As per doctors of SMHS, if these drugs are not available, there will be huge issues for the patients and they can bleed and it can lead to death.
Officials said there are budgetary constraints with the GMC Srinagar as the number of hemophilia patients has been increasing over the years.
On the other hand, J&K National Health Mission had also made a fund commitment for procurement of anti-hemophilia drugs but they have failed to release that money.
“It is also a reason why patients suffer, had NHM given fund commitment it would have helped patients,” Majid said adding GMC Srinagar is not doing the reconciliation with JKNHM.
Head Department of Pathology, Dr Bilal Sheikh said GMC Srinagar has given demand for 10 percent buffer stock and also supplementary demand in September. However, these haven’t been procured by JKMSCL despite the orders from the Secretary Health and Medical Education Department. However, on the contrary, GMC Jammu has issued the purchase orders.
About the delay by J&K NHM to release fund commitment for procurement of anti-hemophilia, Dr Bilal said he had taken up the matter with NHM but they have not released the amount till date.
“For the financial year 2023-24, JK NHM had confirmed to give Rs 7.7 crore fund commitment for procurement of hemophilia drugs but NHM hasn’t released that money due to some internal issues. We have purchased the drugs worth Rs 7.7 crores and we have utilized that and we have also given utilization certificate to NHM despite that the amount has not been released,” he said.
Dr Qazi Qamar, Deputy General Manager, JKMSCL said they had requested GMC Srinagar to give annual requirement in one go as the procured hemophilia drugs are required to undergo testing which is done at National Institute of Biologicals and testing takes 45 days.
“All requirements are fulfilled as they arise; however, quality testing before release can sometimes delay the process after purchase orders are placed,” he said. JKMSCL releases the medicines only after the quality check.
The Deputy General Manager stated that in FY 2022-23, hemophilia drugs worth Rs 16 crores were procured. This amount increased to Rs 24 crores in FY 2023-24 and further to Rs 32 crores in FY 2024-25, with Rs 27 crores allocated exclusively for GMC Srinagar.
However, the Mission Director, JKNHM did not respond to phone calls from Rising Kashmir.
In 2011, the J&K High Court had directed the health department to keep the Factor available 24 hours in the hospital. But in complete disregard to the Court directions, the anti-hemophilia factor often remains unavailable at SMHS hospital pushing patients to the wall.