Chikkaballapur: Patients forced to buy medicines outside despite govt's free scheme


Chikkaballapur, Oct 20 (DHNS): Even though the district hospital has launched the Pradhan Mantri Janaoushadi programme and opened generic medical outlets in its campus, the doctors have not stopped giving the patients prescriptions and asking them to go to private medical stores.

When asked about this discrepancy the hospital authorities admit that there are certain 'teething problems' that they are trying to overcome and soon the Janaoushadi program and generic medical stores will become fully functional. "Then this practice of issuing 'chits' for private medical stores will stop," a doctor said.

When DH did a 'reality check' to ascertain the truth in the allegation of patients that the 'chit' system was still in practice, the allegation turned out to be true. Standing at the exit of the hospital this reporter found scores of patients heading towards private medical hospitals with prescriptions.

Lakshamma, the mother of a patient with kidney stones said that she came to the hospital believing that all the medicines given to her son would be free under the PM Janaoushadi scheme. But the doctors gave her a prescription for some injectibles to be bought at private medical stores outside. "I had to spend Rs. 1000 on those medicines," she lamented. Further probe into the matter revealed that the actual MRP on the injectible was Rs 240. But the private medical store had charged Lakshamma Rs 970 for it.

Most patients like Lakshamma who spoke to this reporter expressed their helplessness in such a situation where they have to care for their dear ones who are ill and can't question a doctor's opinion on the matter. "A government hospital doctor had said that my aunt requires this medicine immediately," said Anand another aggrieved family member of a patient. "How can I question his decision? I have to get the medicines even if they are expensive outside," he added.

About two months ago Health Minister Ramesh Kumar who visited the hospital had announced that the goverment would make all medicines required by the hospital available at all times and that poor patients need not spend a single pie for their treatment there. He had specifically instructed the hospital's doctors to cease issuing 'chits' for medication to be bought outside. He had even warned them of penal action if the chit system continues. All this has turned into a big hoax felt the patients.

Meanwhile, before the hospital opened nine private pharmacies and three private diagnostic centres opened nearby. They are all doing roaring business now. The district health officer Dr Ravishankar has assured to look into the matter.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • NN, Mangalore

    Sat, Oct 21 2017

    All Doctors lifestyle should be monitored and their income tax returns and their relatives income tax returns should be audited every year. Most doctors take their fees without giving proper receipt and collect commission from the drug pharmacies for their prescriptions. Getting rich on the backs of poor and helpless people must stop at once. All doctors should follow their professional ethics or loose license.

    DisAgree [2] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rathan, Mangalore

    Fri, Oct 20 2017

    Great achievement by Khangress govt
    As a welfare state nobody requires govt medicine as all citizens have improved
    their economic condition under niddramayya govt
    All khangress supporters r happy

    DisAgree [4] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Walter Saldanha, Kemmannu Udupi

    Fri, Oct 20 2017

    I need seven types of tablets prescribed by my doctor. I bought all these from Janasanjivin Generic at Ajjarakad. When I went to buy them this month they told me that government issued notice not to sell branded medicines and they don't have none in generics.
    Mr.Promodh Madwaraj sir please do something.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sethu, Mangalore

    Fri, Oct 20 2017

    It is the state of affairs in all Government Hospitals. Even, life savings drugs are not in supply. In public, congress ministers and politicians shouting from rooftop that doctors prescribing medicines from outside will be suspended from service. This sort of irresponsible statements are the reasons for attack on doctors. People are dying without basic healthcare in government hospitals and staff deployed there are helpless. It seems, our people are contented with welfare schemes delivered through full page newspaper advertisements. Few months back, eight operation theatre functioning in a dilapidated building at Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences-Bellary collapsed due to incessant rain. Health Minister gave contradictory statements and told pressmen that OT is functioning elsewhere. Government do not have funds to repair this OTs where hundreds of surgical procedures are undertaken for BPL patients. Even after two months, nothing is moving ahead to set up new operation theater. Meanwhile, Government is busy with releasing funds for Indira Canteens and Bhagya schemes that are expected to bring votes in next election. Freedom is where elected government fears people. If people fears Government, it is called tyranny.....!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Fri, Oct 20 2017

    Of course,things are clear ,from which side the wind is coming.Must be a association between the doctor who priscreibe medicine and the pharmacy where people have to buy.For every prescreibed medicine from said doctor,he must be getting some percent from Pharmacy.It is all a play. Govt.medicines must be going there from back door?Everywhere has a poor man to suffer .Invastigation is the need of the hour.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • neeth, Mangalore

    Fri, Oct 20 2017

    Central Govt funds are misused by State Govt

    DisAgree [15] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Fri, Oct 20 2017

    This need to be looked after and the person responsible to be charged

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Fri, Oct 20 2017

    Some people are very Greedy ...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Chikkaballapur: Patients forced to buy medicines outside despite govt's free scheme



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.