Government Directives on Generic Medicines Ignored; Affordable Jan Aushadhi Scheme Systematically Sidelined as Accusations of Profiteering Plague Poonch Hospital
- Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Mandi faces severe allegations of a deeply entrenched nexus between specific doctors, private diagnostic laboratories, and select pharmacies, accused of exploiting patients through coercive referrals and branded prescriptions.
- Reports indicate widespread defiance of official directives from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Poonch and the Director of Health Services Jammu to prescribe generic medicines, subtly redirecting vulnerable patients to expensive private services.
- The Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana, designed for affordable generic drugs, is allegedly marginalized at SDH Mandi, with doctors rarely utilizing it, raising critical questions about why government-backed alternatives are bypassed for private gain.
Mandi (Poonch), March 27, 2026:Â What ought to be a sanctuary of healing, the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Mandi in Poonch district, is now at the epicentre of a serious scandal. Grave accusations have emerged, detailing a deeply entrenched alliance between certain medical practitioners, private diagnostic facilities, and specific pharmaceutical outlets. This alleged nexus is reportedly siphoning money from vulnerable patients, compromising ethical standards, eroding accountability, and fundamentally undermining the credibility of public healthcare delivery in the region.
At the heart of the controversy lies the routine and blatant disregard for explicit directives issued by both the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Poonch and the Director of Health Services Jammu. These crucial guidelines, designed to protect patients, mandate that doctors must exclusively prescribe generic medicines, avoid mentioning brand names, and ensure prescriptions are legibly written in capital letters. However, numerous credible reports from various sources suggest that these vital instructions are being consistently flouted at SDH Mandi.
Instead of prioritizing patient well-being and accessible treatment, a disturbing pattern of “prescription for profit” is allegedly thriving. Information indicates that certain doctors are routinely prescribing specific branded medications, often linked to particular pharmaceutical outlets. Patients claim they are subtly, and at times explicitly, directed towards these select pharmacies, where medicines are reportedly sold at inflated prices, imposing an undue financial burden. Even more alarming are allegations that diagnostic services are being systematically outsourced. Rather than utilizing the hospital’s own facilities, patients are allegedly funnelled towards specific private laboratories, suggesting a deeply unethical system of commission-based referrals.
For economically vulnerable patients, who rely on public health services for affordable care, these practices translate into unnecessary financial hardship, betraying the very purpose of accessible public healthcare.
Further fuelling public outrage is the alleged marginalization of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana. This flagship government scheme, established to provide affordable, quality generic medicines, reportedly remains significantly underutilized in the area. The Jan Aushadhi Kendra, conveniently located near SDH Mandi as a cost-effective alternative, reportedly sees minimal patient traffic. Sources within the community lament that doctors seldom prescribe medicines available through this scheme, effectively sidelining a key government initiative. This raises a fundamental and troubling question: Why are affordable, government-backed medicines consistently overlooked within a government healthcare facility, allegedly in favour of more expensive branded alternatives?
If these allegations are substantiated, they point to a profound systemic failure where patient care is severely compromised by profit-driven motives. Such conduct not only contravenes established medical guidelines and ethical codes but also rapidly erodes public trust in the entire healthcare system, transforming a facility meant for healing into a source of exploitation.
Residents and patients have voiced growing dissatisfaction and profound concern, with many feeling coerced into complying with medical advice, even when it leads to severe financial hardship. A local resident critically observed that despite seeking affordable treatment at a government hospital, patients are often diverted towards expensive private services, completely defeating the intended objective of public healthcare.
As these grave accusations gain momentum, there is an increasing demand for a comprehensive and impartial inquiry. The public is urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged nexus, meticulously audit prescription practices and diagnostic referrals, strictly enforce adherence to generic prescription norms, and fundamentally strengthen the functioning and utilization of Jan Aushadhi centers. If proven, the situation at SDH Mandi could signify more than an isolated incident; it may reflect deeper structural vulnerabilities within the public healthcare system, demanding immediate and decisive action from higher authorities to restore credibility and ensure patient welfare.
