Srinagar, July 15: Due to the restrictions in the Valley, the SK Institute of Medical Sciences Soura is running short of some life saving drugs.
 Several patients undergoing treatment at SKIMS said the hospital denied giving them the drugs pleading “we have no supply”. 
 The patients suffering from ailments like cancer said they are worst hit.
 A Jawahar Nagar girl said her mother suffers from carcinoma but couldn’t get medicines from the hospital. “Today my father reached to SKIMS for drugs. We were denied the life saving drugs by oncology department,” the daughter alleged.
 Flanked by her brother she said the drugs were costly in the open markets and they could not afford it.
 Several other patients narrated the same suffering even a few among them saying they don’t have money to buy drugs.
 Hospital sources said dealers from outside state were worried about the situation and they don’t send drugs.
 “It may not be their priority to send drugs to the hospital this time due to prevailing situation. Dealer’s payments are pending with as transactions could take place. This is also the reason for them to make excuses but they don’t mention it clearly,” the sources said.
 Responding to these allegations of drug shortage, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Dr Syed Amin Tabish admitted there was shortage of “few anti-cancer drugs due to prevailing circumstances.”
  “There can be 20% shortage of drugs but nearly 80% are available. We want to airlift vital drugs and are in constant touch with dealers outside,” he said.
 Tabish admitted that anti-cancer drugs were expensive saying “we may pursue dealers to send drugs… Those who are facing problems should approach my office.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST