NGO, CMCH discuss ‘exorbitant’ rate of medicines at hospital pharmacy

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 12

Team Insaaf, an NGO, led by MLA Simarjit Singh Bains today visited the Christian Medical College and Hospital and had a word with the authorities regarding the alleged exorbitant rate of medicines which were sold inside the pharmacy of the hospital.

He also held a meeting with Dr Abraham Thomas, director, in this regard and discussed the issue.

“The rate of medicines sold inside the hospital are overpriced than those sold outside at shops,” he said during the meeting with the director and also produced bills of medicines.

He specifically quoted the names of two injections, one of which is available outside for Rs 650 while the hospital is charging Rs 1,271 for the same. Yet another injection which is sold at hospital’s pharmacy for Rs 1,771 is available outside the hospital at Rs 600.

Bains said he came to know about the high rates of medicines being sold inside the hospital after which members of the Team Insaaf investigated the matter.

“The CMCH is one of the oldest hospitals of the city and this was not expected from the institution,” he said.

Bains said one of the patients brought injections from outside for less rate and returned it to the hospital pharmacy and was refunded Rs 1,771 while he bought the injection for Rs 600.

“Since the hospital pharmacy took back the injection, they must have checked it and found it to be genuine and hence, they could not say that the medicines and injections sold outside were fake or duplicate,” he said.

Thomas said he would get the matter investigated and asked for time till Tuesday to thoroughly look into every aspect of the issue.

During the meeting, the director said the government was yet to give the hospital money for the treatment of cancer patients to which Bains said he was ready to struggle against the issue and would ask the government to release the fund.

Bains said if the hospital’s money was pending towards the government that did not mean that they should extort money from patients by charging them high rates for medicines.

“I am hopeful that after this hospital will not charge high rates of medicines from the patients in the coming future,” Bains said.

Despite repeated attempts, Dr Abraham Thomas was unavailable for comments.