Shortage of medicines puts Haemophilia patients at risk

Srinagar, Jan 13: The lives of hundreds of haemophilia patients in Kashmir are under threat due to the unavailability of life-saving anti-haemophilic drugs.

Despite repeated requests from the Haemophilia Society Kashmir, the government has failed to provide these essential medicines, leaving patients without treatment for months.

The situation is exacerbated by the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation's (JKMSCL) refusal to supply the medicines, citing a lack of funds, a delegation of haemophilia patients told Greater Kashmir. However, the corporation has a history of delaying the supply of these medicines, even when funds are available, they said. This has resulted in the deaths of several patients and left many physically handicapped. In addition, in the absence of Haemophilia drugs, the patients have to rely on blood products which has resulted in infections like Hepatitis B and C.

To make matters worse, the GMC Srinagar has been without a reagent for Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) for the past two years, leaving many patient samples untested. The hospital's requisition for medicines, placed three months ago, remains unfulfilled.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had directed the government to provide free medication to haemophilia patients in 2011. However, the government has failed to comply with this order, leaving patients to rely on expensive private treatment.

The Haemophilia Society Kashmir has registered 421 patients, with over 250 requiring Factor VIII medicines. However, these medicines have been unavailable for the past two months, putting the lives of these patients at risk.

The treatment of haemophilia is unaffordable, with a single dose of the clotting factor ranging from Rs 6,000 to Rs 24,000. The government's failure to provide these medicines has forced patients to rely on donations and private treatment, which is often sporadic.

The Deputy General Manager of the Medical Supplies Corporation, as per media reports had stated, that haemophilia drugs worth Rs 16 crores were procured in FY 2022-23, increasing to Rs 24 crores in FY 2023-24 and Rs 32 crores in FY 2024-25.

An administrator at GMC Srinagar wishing anonymity said that the funds allocated have run dry and the Government has not allocated any new funds. Wishing anonymity, the administrator said, "We are aware of the perils these patients are facing but we can do nothing.

Syed Majid Quadri, President Haemophilia Society said the total demand was `32 crore, but medicines worth `23 crore were procured. He said when the medicines ran out, the Secretary of Health instructed the procurement of buffer stock. "Subsequently, the Medical Supplies Corporation asked GMC Srinagar to send a supplementary requisition. GMC Srinagar sent the supplementary requisition three months ago to the corporation. However, neither the buffer stock nor the medicines requested in the supplementary requisition were provided by the corporation," he said.

Quadri said whenever additional budget was required, the government would provide it, but this year it has not been done so far. Out of the `23 crore worth of medicines procured, `6 crore was provided by the UT government, while the rest was taken from GMC’s budget instead of being provided from the corporation's own allocated budget.