India, July 3 -- A severe shortage of 51 essential medicines has gripped Janakpuri Super Specialty Hospital (JSSH), a Delhi government-run facility, forcing hundreds of patients to either delay treatment or purchase medicines at steep prices from private pharmacies for the past month, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

The pharmacy has issued a list, dated June 30 and accessed by HT, confirming the unavailability of 51 life-saving drugs at the hospital. The shortage includes acetylsalicylic acid (used to prevent heart attacks and strokes), amiodarone (for irregular heart rhythms), and levodopa-carbidopa (for Parkinson's disease).

Other unavailable drugs include antibiotics such as amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (used for...