Empty shelves greet patients at Lok Nayak Hospital’s pharmacy

At Lok Nayak Hospital in Delhi, patients queuing at pharmacy counters often return empty-handed, only to be directed to the Jan Aushadhi Kendra within the same hospital premises, where they must buy medicines “at a discount.”

The hospital pharmacy, meant to provide free medicines to all patients, has been facing an acute shortage, according to patients and a source at the pharmacy.

“The situation is very bad. Most patients are forced to buy from outside because medicines are not arriving,” said a staffer, requesting anonymity.

On Friday afternoon, the hospital’s indoor pharmacy counters stood largely empty, with just a few patients sitting inside. Outside, however, long queues were seen at the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, where people were purchasing medicines written on hospital prescriptions. A large board displayed the message: “Medicines available here at 50-80% discount.”

A life-size poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi adorned the front wall of the Jan Aushadhi outlet, highlighting the government’s initiative to “make quality medicines affordable for all.

“But Rihana, a patient from Loni in Ghaziabad, asked why I cannot get medicines for free? “This is a government hospital, after all,” she added. She had been waiting in the queue for two hours only to be told that just two out of the five medicines prescribed to her were available.

“The cost of the medicines they gave me was just Rs 99. I am purchasing the rest of the more expensive medicines from here,” she said, pointing towards the Jan Aushadhi Kendra.

“I asked when these will come, and they said maybe tomorrow. But no one knows when,” she added. “Earlier we used to get all medicines from the hospital. Now, we get only one or two, and the rest we have to buy,” she adds.

Another patient, Anas from Jahangirpuri, said: “Expensive medicines are sold outside. I got only one of the three medicines prescribed. I need to pay money here, even though it should be free.”

A prescription reviewed by The Tribune included a list of commonly prescribed medicines, but the hospital pharmacy had none of them in stock. Patients said even generic drugs for fever, pain and infections were sometimes unavailable. Inside the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, a small crowd pressed around the counter, clutching prescriptions.

Vijay Sharma, who works at the outlet, said, “You can buy cheap medicines here. These are all government-approved and available at a discount.” He added that medicines were sold at a fraction of market prices but did not comment on why hospital patients are being redirected there.

For many poorer patients, even discounted medicines are unaffordable. “The government says medicines are free, but we have to buy them. They are making us spend money we don’t have,” said Shabnam, a woman accompanying her daughter for treatment in the ENT Department.

Several others in the queue voiced similar experiences. “Earlier, we used to get everything from the hospital. Now, only cheap or basic medicines are given. For the rest, they send us here,” said a man waiting outside the Jan Aushadhi counter.

The hospital authorities did not respond to The Tribune’s request seeking clarification on the shortage of medicines and the redirection of patients to Jan Aushadhi Kendras.