HC directs PP to get state reply on supply of tablets at government pharmacies

A division bench of Justice SS Sundar and Justice C Saravanan was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by Raju from Keelakarai in Ramanathapuram district on the issue.

The petitioner stated that mostly the economically weaker sections in the society need medical treatment from government hospitals or clinics. Owing to such economic condition, the needy patients have no other alternative than to approach the primary health centres in villages, hospitals at taluk-level and district headquarters. After consulting the doctors in government hospitals, tablets are prescribed, advising the patients to consume them before or after food.

However, pharmacists put all the tablets mixed in a single cover and give to them. Due to this, the illiterate patients are unable to choose their tablets in time as prescribed by the doctors.

If such a problem continued, the poor patients will never recover from their illness. Hence, the petitioner sought the bench to direct the authorities to ensure provision of tablets in separate covers, clearly mentioning what tablets should be taken in what time and how, like before or after the food.

The bench, after hearing, questioned why pharmacists in government hospitals are not providing tablets in separate covers accordingly as prescribed by the doctors.

Further, the bench directed the Public Prosecutor to get proper explanation from the government in this regard and adjourned the case for the next two weeks.