Shortage of medicines plagues civil hospital

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, January 1

While residents rang in the New Year with celebrations, it is the same old story for patients admitted to the Civil Hospital — shortage of medicines and other necessities.

Struggling between wards and chemists located outside the hospital, not only the patients but even their attendants/kin are having a tough time.

Sources said the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) gets just about enough supply of medicines, but the Civil Hospital is apparently nobody’s baby. Huge outstanding payments are the reason behind the short supply of medicines. Of the outstanding payment, only one eighth has been released. As the authorities of the MCH have to provide the patients with necessary medication, under the National Health Mission, they have to arrange the same from their own funds sometimes. However, since there is no such compulsion for the Civil Hospital, so the patients remain at the receiving end.

Ram Sharan, whose father is admitted in the general ward of the Civil Hospital, said on Monday evening, doctor asked me to get an injection. “I went to the pharmacy but the injection was unavailable. I had to get it from the chemist outside and ended up spending a hefty amount. What is the use of the pharmacy when it is without necessary medicines,” said he.

Nameez Bano from Malerkotla, whose son was admitted to the hospital said every day, she had to go out to buy medicines. “I know a little about the city and it becomes difficult for me to go outside the hospital and buy medicines,” said she.

Another patient’s attendant said his mother had undergone a leg operation. “Medicines are unavailable in the hospital and it becomes difficult to go outside the hospital leaving my mother alone,” he said.

Dr Geeta, Senior Medical Officer of the Civil Hospital, said medicines are delivered to the hospital from a warehouse Kharar according to the availability. “For MCH patients, it is compulsory to provide them with medicines under the National Health Mission. We sometime have to buy medicines locally to fulfil the demand while for the Civil Hospital, medicines come from the warehouse only,” said Dr Geeta.