J

Jammu, Mar 1: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the health department to check private practices by doctors of the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), mushrooming of unregistered and unlicensed private hospitals and nursing homes and the sale of spurious drugs in the state.

The court gave the direction on a complaint, treating t like a public interest litigation.

Taking cognisance of the complaint, the court has directed the Principal Secretary, Health, directors of health services, and the Jammu and Kashmir drug controller to take necessary measures in this regard.

The departments concerned have to furnish details of registered private hospitals, nursing homes, clinical establishments in the state within a week.

The court said there was a comprehensive Jammu and Kashmir Nursing Homes and Clinical Establishment Act 1963 and a Drugs and Cosmetics Act in the state, under which all nursing homes, clinical establishments, druggists and chemists are required to be registered with the respective departments.

There was a ban on private practice by doctors working in SKIMS.

The court also directed the Commissioner Vigilance to to see that periodical inspections and raids were carried out to ensure that the ban was not violated.

The court has sought a compliance report on the next date of hearing on April 25.

UNI