Govt begins probe into stoppage of medical supplies to Jammu hospital

The state Health and Medical Education Department has initiated an inquiry into the abrupt stopping of medical supplies to Government Super Specialty Hospital (GSSH) here that has led to crisis among cardiac patients who are awaiting implants and other procedures.

The supplies were halted on December 8, leading to widespread criticism of the department. The J&K and Ladakh High Court took a suo motu notice of the matter after multiple reports suggested that cardiac patients were facing problems. Four suppliers have halted the supplies, citing delayed payments.

An official of the department said, “The Health & Medical Education Department took a serious note of the disruption of cardiac devices and stent supplies to the Cardiology Department of the hospital by four suppliers operating under the Amrit Pharmacy network. They had, without any prior notice, stopped the supply of essential cardiac implants and consumables from December 8, citing delayed payments.”

The GSSH has been providing cashless cardiac care, including angiography, angioplasty, stenting, CCU management and other advanced interventions, under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (Sehat) Scheme.

Due to the crisis, the department directed the GMC, Jammu, to arrange supplies from alternative vendors and other institutions, including AIIMS-Vijaypur, GMC-Srinagar, SKIMS and PGIMER, Chandigarh.

A criminal complaint has been filed by the department for alleged theft and unlawful removal of cardiac stents. The department also ordered an inquiry to ascertain the circumstances leading to the disruption, for fixing responsibility and for recommending systemic safeguards.

After the high court took the suo motu cognisance of the matter, it directed the Registrar (Judicial) to register and number the petition in public interest.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal said as per reports, the cardiac services at the GSSH, Jammu, had come to a halt as authorised suppliers of emergency cardiac devices, including stents, pacemakers and balloons, suspended supplies due to unpaid dues amounting to nearly Rs 30 crore under the Sehat scheme.

“As a result, cath lab operations have been completely paralysed. The GSSH normally performs around 25 cardiac procedures a day, but due to the impasse, not a single procedure could be carried out, placing vulnerable cardiac patients at serious risk,” the Bench stated.

The Bench said prima facie, the matter was highly sensitive. The court also requested advocate SS Ahmed to act as amicus and assist the court in the PIL. Ahmed had earlier brought up alleged deficiencies in health infrastructure in J&K through filing PILs.