COVID19: 'Black Marketing Of Life Saving Drugs': Jharkhand HC Raps Drug Controller, Asks Govt To Ensure Adequate Supply Of Drugs, Oxygen

Coming down heavily on the Drug Controller (for the State of Jharkhand) for her failure to discharge her duties and to put a check on black marketing of life-saving drugs, the Jharkhand High Court last week called it 'unfortunate' that she sought exemption from personal appearance before the Court.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad was hearing suo moto proceedings initiated to take stock of the State Government's preparedness to deal with COVID emergency.

Significantly, during the course of the last hearing in this matter, the Court had expressed concern over the manner in which the State of Jharkhand had been handling the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.

The Court had called it a "serious issue of concern" that while the Drug Controller submitted that Remdesivir Injection and Favipiravir Tablets were being made available to top medical shops but people were not getting them.

This remark by the Jharkhand High Court has come days after it had observed that Jharkhand was heading towards a health emergency and that the non-availability of a CT scan machine was a matter of serious concern.

Drug Controller seeks exemption from personal appearance

On April 17, the Court had directed for the appearance of the Drug Controller through online mode on the pretext that in spite of repeated queries made by the Court regarding the steps taken in putting control on black marketing of the medicines like Remdesivir and Favipiravir and other related medicines, she had kept mum.

However, filing a memo showing the reason of non-appearance i.e., her engagement in granting license to the suppliers for supply of oxygen, she sought exemption from person appearance. 

To this, the Court remarked,

"It is unfortunate on the part of Drug Controller to seek exemption on such ground, while on the other hand, it has been informed to this Court that she is busy in giving interviews to the media people."

Further, the Court stated that in a State, Drug Controller is appointed mainly to make an adequate supply of medicines and to put check on black marketing of such medicines and that in a situation like COVID where the majority of people are not getting the life-saving drugs, like Remdesivir and Favipiravir and other related medicines while on the other hand, such medicines are being black marketed

Therefore, the Court observed

"Prima-facie, it appears that the Drug Controller has failed in discharging her duties, even though to put check on black marketing is one of the statutory duty of the Drug Controller"

Further, the Court remarked that it didn't appreciate the conduct of the Officers like Drug Controller to evade the order passed by the Court sitting under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, however, the Court asked her to ensure her presence on Thursday (April 29).

State's submissions

The Advocate General informed the Court that so far as maintaining the adequate supply of oxygen in different hospitals both private, as well as Government across the State, was concerned, a sincere endeavour was being taken.

He also submitted that the State Government was taking keen efforts to make oxygen available through installing plant for the said purpose in different Sadar Hospitals across the State.

So far as the supply of Remdesivir and Favipiravir medicines were concerned, it was submitted that sincere efforts would be made to put check on black marketing of these medicines and supply it to the medical shops/hospitals reflecting the names of such hospitals and medical shops for knowledge of the people at large by publishing it in the leading newspaper published from Ranchi and elsewhere.

It was also submitted that the State Government would take sincere endeavors for supply of medicines like Remdesivir and Favipiravir

Lastly, Posting the matter for further hearing on Thursday (April 29), the High Court directed the State Government to apprise it regarding the steps taken:

• To maintain the adequate supply of life-saving drugs to treat the persons affected by Covid-19 virus,
• To maintain the adequate supply of oxygen in different hospitals both private as well as Government and
• The steps taken to put control on black marketing of life-saving drugs as also the further progress in the context.

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