Srinagar, June 19: Haemophilia patients in Kashmir have expressed concern over the shortage of anti-haemophilia drugs at GMC Srinagar, calling for a hassle-free procurement process to safeguard their lives.
While haemophilia patients across all Indian states and Union Territories are provided life-saving anti-haemophilia drugs free of cost by their respective governments, it appears that this crucial support has been undermined in Jammu and Kashmir since October last year.
“Since October–November 2024, we have knocked on the doors of all concerned officers and departments regarding the shortage of anti-haemophilia drugs, irregular availability, and excessive delays in procurement,” said Syed Majid Qadri, President, Haemophilia Society Kashmir.
He said JKMSCL takes months to supply these essential medicines and once received, drug testing takes more than 100 days. “This entire delay-ridden process continues to hang like a sword over the heads of haemophilia patients,” he said. Qadri said that half of 2025 has passed and, out of the annual drug requirement, only one medicine—Monoclonal Antibodies—has been fully supplied and that too in May.
“From a demand of 600 vials of Factor-VII, only 200 have been received. For von Willebrand Factor, only 300 vials have been supplied out of 5,000 required. For Factor-IX, despite a demand for 6,000 vials, not a single vial has been provided. As for Factor-VIII, only 690 vials have been supplied against a demand of 6,000,” he said. Qadri stated that the requisition for the required medicine supply was submitted in January and February 2025, yet the actual supply remains shockingly inadequate. “Due to the critical drug shortage, prophylactic treatment for nearly 60 percent of patients has halted since November last year, and they have been shifted to on-demand treatment,” he said.
Qadri complained that even on-demand dosages are not being administered properly due to the persisting shortage. “Prophylactic treatment plays a vital role in preventing spontaneous bleeding and improving patients’ quality of life.” The Haemophilia Society Kashmir, which comprises haemophilia patients, said that at the time of annual requisition, the Corporation did not have valid rate contracts for several essential anti-haemophilia drugs, especially the long-acting (EHL) factors. “It took the Corporation several months to finalise the new rate contracts. Meanwhile, JKMSCL requested GMC Srinagar to submit certain drug requisitions, including for EHL drugs, in offline mode. The user department complied and sent these offline requisitions to the Principal of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar,” he said.
He also noted that on May 29, the user department sent a reminder letter through the Principal, GMC Srinagar, to JKMSCL. “Considering the worsening condition of patients, Haemophilia Society Kashmir directly approached the Managing Director of JKMSCL. To our shock, we learned that the offline requisitions sent over six months ago were never forwarded by GMC Srinagar to the Corporation. Even the reminder letter dated May 29, 2025 was not forwarded,” he alleged. Qadri further stated that during the annual requisition process, a comprehensive list of required drugs and equipment was submitted to the government, and only after receiving government approval does JKMSCL proceed with procurement. “So the question arises—how can lack of budget be cited as an excuse in the sixth month of the financial year?” According to patients, the shortage of anti-haemophilia drugs—life-saving medicines—since October last year indicates that the haemophilia treatment system in J&K is collapsing. “Despite our continuous appeals to the authorities since October–November 2024, no serious action has been taken. The lives of haemophilia patients are in grave danger, and higher authorities continue to display indifference towards this critical issue,” he said. He mentioned that they may move the J&K High Court, as the Haemophilia Unit at SMHS Hospital often lacks anti-haemophilia drugs despite a 2011 HC order that mandated 24×7 availability of the drugs. Dr Sheikh Bilal, Head of Pathology at GMC Srinagar, said the department submitted the requirement for haemophilia drugs, but the final requisition is confirmed by the medical college to JKMSCL. Officials added that the portal for annual demand was active until 15 March, and purchase orders were issued only for drugs with valid rate contracts. They also cited budgetary issues at the administrative level. However, JKMSCL officials argue that every batch of drug must undergo quality testing at the National Institute of Biologicals, which is a 45-day process. They said the mandatory check can delay distribution after purchase orders are issued.
