CHENNAI: A PIL petition has been filed in the Madras High Court for a directive to State government to make available emergency life-saving drugs like insulin to poor patients free of cost at all government hospitals in the State.
A division bench of Justices R Subbiah and C Saravanan, before which the PIL from G Devarajan came up for hearing on Friday, ordered notice to the Health secretary and others, returnable by two weeks.
According to petitioner, 1000s of sugar patients thronged GHs and number was increasing every year. Of late, the disease had affected youth also. Type 2 diabetics are mostly within the range of 30 to 40 years, could be cured by tablets. But, there are people who could get relief only by insulin injection. However, in GH insulin is provided at a nominal price. Poor who cannot afford private hospitals should be given insulin free of cost, petitioner said.