Aastha Thakur
Published on: 16 October 2022 at 23:22 IST
The State government must submit a report on the causes of the frequent “spread” of viral illnesses in Tamil Nadu, according to a Friday order from the Madras High Court.
The decision was made by Justice SM Subramaniam after hearing the argument of a Medical Store officer who was accused of buying more medicine than was allowed, leading to its expiration and resulting in significant financial loss to the State Exchequer.
The court stated right away that there are “wider allegations in the public domain” that outdated medications are given to underprivileged patients in government hospitals.
The Court, “That apart, in recent days, frequently diseases are out breaking, despite the fact that the Government announced various sanitation programs. After COVID-19, Monkey Pox and thereafter, Influenza and many more are spreading across the State of Tamil Nadu.”
“These viral diseases are spreading continuously and the reason for such spreading over are not found out by the Medical Researchers, and competent authorities of the State,”
In addition, Justice Subramaniam stated that there is general scepticism over whether any criminals are deliberately disseminating such diseases for financial benefit.
Pharmaceutical corporations have lately been documented by even the Supreme Court as having generated millions of crores of rupees “by advertising their brand in an unscrupulous manner,” the bench stated.
It added, “Whether these pharmaceutical companies are indulging in any other illegal activities for spreading these kinds of viral diseases or not, are also to be enquired into and an investigation is imminent.”
“Whether the State is monitoring the activities of the pharmaceutical companies, supply of medicines to the Government Hospitals and private traders, all to be considered by this Court in order to ensure, health being an integral part of Article 21 of the Constitution of India and it becomes the Fundamental Rights of citizen,”
Directing the Secretary to the Department of Health and Family Welfare; Dean of Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and Director of Medical Education to submit their reports in the case for additional consideration:
In the matter of the orders on October 27, it is said that, “The 1st respondent is directed to furnish the reasons and details regarding the spreading over of viral diseases, one after another, without any gap in the State of Tamil Nadu and by conducting necessary enquiry and to ascertain the activities of these pharmaceutical companies and other medicine traders,”