Aujla finds private chemists operating in govt hospital

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 13

Lok Sabha MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla during his visit to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital found three employees of private chemists roaming in several wards of the hospital and collecting prescription slips from patients here today. The incident indicates the nexus between the owners of medical stores and the hospital staff.

Aujla was at the hospital to celebrate Lohri with newborn girls at when patients and their attendants brought it to his notice. Acting on the complaint, Aujla called the police to take them out.

The Lok Sabha MP said that he would take up the issue with the hospital management and ensure that private persons are not allowed to do business inside the hospital.

The employees of private chemists and laboratories can often be seen collecting prescription slips and samples of patients. The patients, too, have also complained against doctors prescribing medicines of such brands that not available at the hospital pharmacy, forcing them to buy it from private medical stores.

The government-owned medical stores are available at the hospitals to provide several medicines free of cost to patients. Even a Jan Aushadi Store is there on the hospital premises that provides generic medicines at a very low cost.

However, a large numbers of the owners of chemist shops alongside Majitha road near the hospital often connive with health employees to increase their sales.

Besides, employees of private labs can also be seen conducting tests, including ECG and collecting blood samples in the presence of hospital employees.

Aujla said, “Everything will be set in order soon. If any such complaint is received, action will be taken against employees facilitating private persons inside the hospital. I will discuss the issue with hospital authorities and if needed, it will be taken up with higher-ups.”

Alerted by patients

Lok Sabha MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla turned up at the hospital to celebrate Lohri with newborn girls when he was alerted by patients and attendants that employees of private medical stores roam inside the hospital and collect prescription slips from them. Even staff of some private labs collect samples on hospital premises. Aujla says he will take it up with higher-ups.