Act against docs for prescribing medicines not available in govt pharmacy: Employees

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 19

Members of the Para-medical Health Employees’ Association on Friday staged a protest in front of the Civil Surgeon’s office and raised slogans against the Health Department for allegedly not taking action against erring doctors who have been prescribing medicines with brand names (not available in govt-run pharmacy).

Members of the association raised slogans against the senior Health Department officials and sought action against doctors who were allegedly prescribing medicines with brand names, which patients were forced to buy from private chemist shops.

Gagandeep Singh, president of the association, said, “We demand a departmental inquiry against the erring doctors who prescribe medicines which are not available at the government-run pharmacy for their own vested interest and as a result, patients are forced to buy these from private chemist shops on exorbitant prices.”

He said, “Glaring irregularities and malpractices of employees have been brought to the notice of senior health department officials, but to no avail so far. Our struggle is for the common man who cannot buy medicines at high rates. There is a nexus in place and procurement of medicines is done through unfair practices. We want strict action against the erring officials/doctors.”