Jan Aushadhi at mental health institute soon

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 10

During a visit to Dr Vidya Sagar Institute of Mental Health here on Thursday, Lok Sabha member Gurjeet Singh Aujla took notice of the shortcomings at the premier institute and asked the authorities concerned to take steps to overcome the same.

He also announced to take up the case of opening a Jan Aushadi store to provide medicines to patients at nominal rates. Aujla said a store would be opened shortly here so that patients are not forced to buy medicines at high rates.

The MP claimed that an inquiry to fix the responsibility for the wrongdoings in the last few years would also be conducted. “It has come to our notice that the mess for students has been deliberately allowed to go defunct to benefit private contractors close to some officials,” he said.

The institute, only of its kind, caters to the needs of mentally unstable patients. With over 350 patients admitted here, it also acts as clinical training institute for medical and paramedical students from north India.

Aujla said that the services at the hospital would be further strengthened as it had been serving the society by taking care of mentally unstable patients. “I have also learnt about the shortage of staff and will write to the officials concerned in this regard,” he added.