Dr K K Aggarwal and
advocate Ira Gupta
On 3rd of
this month, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Delhi High Court had strictly directed
Central Government to provide the list of Over the Counter (OTC) Drugs by September
12 in the PIL filed by Heart Care Foundation of India. The Hon’ble High Court
passed the following order:
“If the report as per the
directions of this Court is not filed so far, the same be filed on or before
the next date of hearing. We also direct the respondents to provide a list of
Over the Counter (OTC) drugs by the next date of hearing.”
We appeared personally and
argued and informed the Hon’ble Court that currently no such list is available
by the government and the chemists and pharmacists are dispensing the schedule
drugs on the plea that they do not have a list of OTC drugs where medical
prescription is not required. The Central Government has filed its counter
affidavit in which the Government had stated that it has constituted committee
for the formulation of law on OTC drugs, however, the minutes of the meetings
conducted by the sub-committee are under preparation.
In another case, the Hon’ble Chief
Justice of Delhi High Court directed India Railways, Delhi Metro, all courts in
Delhi to file their status report in the PIL about the installation of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated
external defibrillator (AED) machine in public places like courts, railways
and metro.
The Hon’ble Court has
passed following order:
“We have heard Dr.K.K.Aggarwal
at length and also learned counsel for the parties. Learned counsel for the
respondents to file an affidavit by the next date of hearing, stating clearly
the following:-
(a) What steps they have
already taken to establish the centres giving Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)
as well as the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)?
(b) What is the infrastructure
which is already provided and what infrastructure they are going to provide in
the new centres?
(c) How many personnel have
been deployed at such centres and what is the future road map for the personnel
which are to be engaged in such centres which are yet to be established.
(d) In the affidavit it shall
also be highlighted about the training given to the persons who are going to be
deployed at the aforesaid centres.
(e) The respondents shall also
highlight about the availability of ambulances with National Ambulance Code :
Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) – 125 Part-II facilities.”
These directions of the
High Court were in direct response to the PILs filed by HCFI, which has been
named amicus curiae in both the cases.
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri Awardee
President Elect Confederation of
Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania
(CMAAO)
Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President Heart Care Foundation of
India
Past National President
IMA
