Delhi High Court Closes PIL on Medicine Shortage at Rajan Babu Tuberculosis Institute

The Delhi High Court has closed proceedings on a PIL concerning the alleged unavailability of medicines at the Rajan Babu Lung and Tuberculosis Institute. The court was informed that the existing stock in the city would last for a few weeks, and the process of supplying additional supplies was underway. Consequently, the court has ceased proceedings on the petition.

The High Court received updates from the Central Government and the Mission Director of the Delhi State Health Mission, confirming that the current stock of medicines at the hospital will last for a few weeks, and efforts to supply the remaining medicines are ongoing.

Details Provided to the Court

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora noted that, according to the government’s affidavit, the stock of 4 FDC (A) medicines in the hospital is sufficient for a month. Additionally, the stock of 3 FDC (A) medicines is adequate for three weeks, with the supply process for the remaining medicines in progress. In light of this information, the court decided to close the proceedings on the petition.

The Mission Director of the Center and the Delhi State Health Mission submitted an affidavit to the court, detailing the availability of medicines and their supply status in Delhi’s storage houses.

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Allegations of Non-Availability of Essential Medicines

The petitioner, NGO ‘Social Jurist,’ filed the petition earlier this year, claiming that the hospital’s only ultrasound machine was not operational and that essential medicines had been unavailable for the past six months. The petitioner’s lawyer, Ashok Aggarwal, argued that poor patients were being forced to purchase medicines from outside.

Previously, the Center assured the court that proactive measures were being taken to expedite the supply of anti-TB drugs, ensuring that patient care at the ground level would not be compromised. Regarding the ultrasound machine, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) assured that the machine is fully functional at the institute.