Close down all unlicensed drug, chemist shops: J and K, H C

Srinagar, Apr 24 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the state government to close down private hospitals, nursing homes and chemist shops operating without proper registeration and license.

The court also directed authorities to fill 200 vacancies of doctors in the health department.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Bashir Ahmad Khan and Justice Nirmal Singh gave the direction on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

We feel concerned at the growing number of unregistered and unlicensed druggists and chemists in the State, the court said.

Controller Drugs is, accordingly, directed to take immediate necessary steps to seal all unregistered and unlicensed druggists and chemists' shops, establishments and complete the operation within six weeks, the court added.

The court further said that it is disturbed by the alarming reports of alleged volume of spurious drug trade going on in the State and also lack of requisite machinery to check the menace.

The court directed the Government through its Chief Secretary to constitute a committee of experts to be headed by Principal Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department again, to suggest ways and means to deal with the spurious drug trade.

This Committee should be constituted within three weeks from the date of receipt of this order by the concerned authority, the court added.

The court directed the state government, to constitute a committee to be headed by Principal Secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department to evolve and formulate suitable criteria for registration of private hospitals, nursing homes and clinical establishments and laboratories.

The Committee should ask a representative of Private Diagnostic Establishments Association (Dr Ghulam Jeelani as suggested by G A Lone representing these Diagnostic Establishments), and a member representing private hospitals and nursing homes to submit their view points in writing in respect of the criteria to be formulated, the court added.

An order, incorporating the criteria so formulated by the committee, then should shall be published through a public notice in print and electronic media on May 4,2006.

The court said it was informed that there are more than 200 vacancies of Assistant surgeons lying vacant in Kashmir Division and as a result of which the health services and the patient care and medical treatment is suffering in rural areas.

The court directed the vacancies be filled up on a priority basis.

UNI BAS PA GC1532