Acting Chief Justice of HP High Court Justice Sanjay Karol said that regulatory agencies had important role to play in manufacturing and distribution of drugs and therefore they need to be honest in delivering its duties. He stressed that people needed to be made aware about the generic medicines and all stakeholders should work actively in this direction.He was speaking as the chief guest during a workshop on free generic medicines, their availability, procurement and quality organised jointly by state Health department and National Health Mission here today.Justice Karol said that poor and needy patients should get the facility of complete medical treatment at Primary Health Centre level, however, it was a matter of concern that in most of the cases patients were referred to other hospitals. He said that essential life saving drugs should be made available in rural hospitals to facilitate the common man.
He said that there was need for further improvement in 108 National Ambulance Service. He said extensive awareness campaigns should be launched to make people aware about various health programmes and schemes.Principal Secretary, Health Shri Prabodh Saxena apprised that as many as 2083 health institutes were operational in the state. The health indicators of the state were best in the country and the infant mortality rate had come down to 25 from 68. The state government was spending 44.3 percent on health expenditure of per person. He said six dialysis units had been established in the state and 10 cancer treatment units had also been made operational.Advocate General, HP High Court Ashok Sharma and former Advocate General Shrawan Dogra gave their valuable suggestions on this occasion. Justice Trilok Chauhan, Justice Sureshwar Thakur, Justice Ajay Mohan Goyal and Justice Sandeep Sharma of HP High Court were also present on the occasion.