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SC notice to Centre, CBI on malpractice in CGHS

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI May 8. The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and the CBI on a public interest petition highlighting the shocking state of affairs in the supply and procurement of drugs for the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and pleading for ending the maladministration and corruption.

A Bench comprising the Chief Justice, V.N. Khare, and Justice S.B. Sinha also issued notice to the Directorate-General of Health Services, New Delhi, and the Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation (India) Ltd. (HSCC) on the petition filed by a retired judge of the Allahabad and Calcutta High Courts.

The petitioner, R.N. Ray, said that as a member of the scheme he was experiencing an acute shortage of drugs in the local CGHS dispensaries in Kolkata. Maladministration and corruption in the CGHS had threatened the life and health of all the CGHS beneficiaries.

Drugs not tested by Government-approved laboratories were being procured by the Union Health Ministry for the CGHS beneficiaries. This resulted in substandard drugs being procured, that too at high prices.

He alleged that officials were hand in glove with the HSCC and drug manufacturers and local chemists and were procuring drugs at high prices, thus causing a loss to the Government exchequer.

The respondents due to their apathy and inaction had neglected to guarantee the rights of the people as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution, the petitioner said. Suitable corrective action was taken by the apex court by issuing appropriate directions, the health of the citizens of the country would be in peril.

He prayed for a direction to the Union Health Ministry to ensure that an abundant supply of quality medicines tested in Government-approved laboratories was available for all the CGHS beneficiaries and to direct the CBI to investigate into the CGHS' affairs and the methods of drug procurement.

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