Health Minister denies shortage of medicines at Lok Nayak Hospital

Delhi Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh on Friday termed media reports alleging medicine shortage at Lok Nayak Hospital baseless.

The minister said after reviewing drug stocks across government hospitals, Medical Superintendents submitted reports confirming availability of essential medicines.

Lok Nayak Hospital stated that all essential and life-saving medicines from the Delhi Government’s approved drug list were in stock. It said daily monitoring of stock positions took place, with shortfalls replenished through procurement.

The minister said, “The report from Lok Nayak, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Lal Bahadur Shastri hospitals confirms the availability of over 40 critical items, including Amikacin, Meropenem, Vancomycin injections, vaccines, syrups, tablets, IV cannulas and normal saline.”

“Two items - injection Linezolid and syrup Ipravent - were not available as these were not on the essential drug list,” he added.

The government said medicine supply was an ongoing process, with shortages resolved promptly.

A ground report from The Tribune, published on November 3, showed that empty shelves greeted patients at the Lok Nayak Hospital pharmacy. When The Tribune visited the ground, patients said they received one or two prescribed medicines, with the rest unavailable. They were directed to the Jan Aushadhi Kendra on the premises to buy discounted medicines.

The Jan Aushadhi Kendra sold medicines at 50-80 per cent discount. 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 centres.