HC asks Delhi govt whether it can supply drugs to poor

The Delhi High Court today asked the city government whether any scheme for distribution of essential drugs to the poor could be formulated.
"Get an appropriate instruction to formulate schemes to enable people lacking financial wherewithal to get essential drugs," Justice Rajiv Shakdher said.
The court posed the query to Delhi government's counsel during the hearing of a plea on behalf of a 13-year-old Afreen Ansari, who suffers from Turner Syndrome, seeking directions to the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Hospital, the Centre and the city government to provide her continuous and uninterrupted treatment free of cost.
The class VII student was diagnosed with the syndrome over two years ago and has been under treatment since.

Earlier, the city government had told the court that it does not have any policy to provide "prolonged or life-long treatment" for patient with rare genetic disorder claiming free of cost treatment.
The government had also said it has allocated 10 per cent of its budget towards health which is highest in the country.
Advocate Ashok Agarwal, appearing for the girl had told the court that her father worked as a tailor in Trilokpuri. He hardly earned Rs 7,500 per month and had no means to purchase the prescribed injections.
The petition stated: "If the growth hormone is not given, the girl may have stunted growth. Patients suffering from Turner's Syndrome are prone to developing heart diseases, kidney deformities, and menstrual and reproductive irregularities.