Siraj Uddin Salam
Healthcare is not a privilege reserved for a few; it is a fundamental right guaranteed to every citizen. The quality of a healthcare system is measured not only by the number of hospitals or doctors it has but also by whether patients can easily obtain safe, affordable, and effective medicines when they need them. Unfortunately, many patients in Jammu & Kashmir continue to face serious challenges in accessing prescribed medicines. These challenges deserve urgent attention from policymakers, healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities, and the public alike.
Over the years, a growing concern has emerged regarding the availability, pricing, and distribution of medicines across the Union Territory. Patients often discover that medicines prescribed in one region are either unavailable or difficult to obtain in another. While doctors across Jammu & Kashmir receive similar medical education and generally follow established treatment guidelines, patients frequently encounter different brands, different prices, and inconsistent availability of medicines between the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
This is not merely an inconvenience. For patients suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, asthma, kidney disorders, and cancer, uninterrupted access to medicines is essential. Even a short delay in treatment can lead to serious complications, hospital admissions, and, in some cases, life-threatening emergencies.
My concern is not based only on public discussions or hearsay. It arises from a personal experience that deeply affected my family. My elderly mother, who is diabetic, was prescribed a specific insulin injection by her doctor in Baramulla. During a visit to Jammu, we searched several pharmacies for the same insulin but were unable to find it. The anxiety of searching for a life-saving medicine while caring for an elderly patient is something no family should have to experience. Although pharmacists suggested alternative brands, changing insulin should always be done under proper medical supervision. Such situations place unnecessary stress on patients and their caregivers.
This experience prompted me to ask a simple yet important question: Why should a patient struggle to obtain prescribed medicines simply because they have travelled from one part of the same Union Territory to another?
The issue extends beyond availability alone. Many patients report significant differences in the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of medicines with similar compositions. While pricing variations may sometimes be justified due to different manufacturers or formulations, the lack of transparency leaves ordinary citizens confused. Patients often wonder whether they are paying for better quality, for branding, or simply because of market practices that they do not fully understand.
Medicine quality is another issue that deserves careful attention. India’s pharmaceutical industry enjoys an international reputation and supplies medicines across the world. However, public confidence depends upon strong regulatory oversight, rigorous quality testing, and transparent enforcement. Every patient should have complete faith that the medicine purchased from any licensed pharmacy in Jammu or Kashmir meets the same high standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness.
The healthcare system should function as an integrated network where essential medicines remain consistently available across all districts. A prescription issued in Baramulla should be readily fulfilled in Jammu, Srinagar, Kupwara, Anantnag, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, or Kathua without forcing patients to visit multiple pharmacies or return to the prescribing doctor merely because a particular brand is unavailable.
This challenge is particularly severe in remote and mountainous regions of Jammu & Kashmir. Patients living in villages often travel many kilometres to consult specialists in district hospitals. If prescribed medicines are unavailable locally, they must spend additional time and money searching elsewhere. For elderly citizens, economically weaker families, and people with disabilities, these difficulties become even greater.
Another important aspect requiring attention is rational prescribing. Doctors naturally prescribe medicines based on their professional judgment and the best interests of their patients. At the same time, healthcare authorities should continue encouraging the prescription of quality-assured generic medicines wherever medically appropriate. Generic medicines approved by regulators can often provide effective treatment at lower cost while reducing dependence on specific brands that may not always be available.
Digital technology can also play an important role in solving this problem. A centralized online database showing the availability of essential medicines across government hospitals and licensed pharmacies would help patients locate medicines quickly. Such a system would reduce unnecessary travel, improve transparency, and strengthen public confidence in healthcare services.
The Drug Control Administration and other regulatory authorities should also undertake periodic reviews of medicine distribution patterns throughout Jammu & Kashmir. These reviews can identify shortages, improve supply-chain efficiency, ensure compliance with pricing regulations, and verify that medicines reaching patients meet all prescribed quality standards.
Public awareness is equally important. Patients should be educated about generic medicines, safe substitution practices, and the importance of consulting qualified healthcare professionals before changing prescribed medicines. Pharmacists, who serve as one of the most accessible healthcare professionals, can play an important role by providing accurate guidance while working in coordination with prescribing doctors.
Healthcare succeeds only when every stakeholder performs their responsibility with transparency and accountability. Pharmaceutical companies must ensure uninterrupted supply. Distributors should maintain efficient logistics. Pharmacies should stock essential medicines responsibly. Doctors should prescribe according to evidence-based medical practice. Regulators should monitor quality and pricing effectively. Together, these efforts can create a system that places patient welfare above all else.
I respectfully urge Hon’ble , the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the Drug Control Administration, medical associations, healthcare institutions, and all concerned authorities to examine this issue comprehensively. A transparent review of medicine availability, pricing, distribution, and quality assurance across Jammu & Kashmir would reassure the public and help identify practical reforms where needed.
No family should experience uncertainty while searching for life-saving medicines. No elderly patient should fear missing treatment because a prescribed medicine is unavailable in another city. No citizen should question whether geography determines access to healthcare.
The strength of a healthcare system is reflected not only in advanced hospitals or modern equipment but in the confidence of ordinary people that essential medicines will always be available, affordable, safe, and of assured quality. Ensuring that confidence is one of the most important responsibilities of any government committed to public welfare.
It is time to treat medicine accessibility as a matter of public policy rather than individual hardship. Every patient in Jammu & Kashmir deserves timely access to quality medicines regardless of where they live or travel within the Union Territory. The health and dignity of our citizens depend upon it.
The author can be reached at siraj.office@yahoo.in
