The much-hyped Niramaya scheme, which is meant to distribute medicines among patients free of cost, has utterly failed in Baleswar district though the authorities make tall claims.
It is so conceived from the fact that only 60 types of medicines are available in the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) against 443 categories listed while a year has already passed since the Niramay scheme was launched in the State.
The Government had announced to supply 570 types of medicines to the DHH and later listed it at 443. But only 60 types are available now and, that too, they are for very common diseases. No medicine for complicated diseases and complex cases is available.
The drugs are distributed through at only two centres, one at the outdoor and another at the indoor, against 5 centres planned.
lack of adequate number of pharmacists and computer savvy manpower is stated to be the main reason behind non-distribution of medicines. The State Medical Corporation, which provides drugs to the hospitals, is yet to be streamlined.
A staff, seeking anonymity, said though the DHH has received 120 types of medicines, yet about 60 types are being distributed due to lack of manpower. While an average of 500 patients visit the DHH daily, inadequate supply of medicines due to the apathetic attitude of the department as well as hospital administration has made them suffer.
While there is a requirement of at least 16 pharmacists to manage affairs, only eight are on the job. Patients have demanded that the counters opened at Surgery and Gynaecology Departments at the earliest.