Generic medicines in Redcross drugstore, on the premises of Dr BR Ambedkar Hospital, do not have generic medicines for over two months now, forcing people to buy expensive branded medicines from outside.
Government and administration had issued strict instructions to Government hospitals to ensure that generic medicines reach the patients as they are cost-effective and have same compositions as expensive branded medicines. Redcross drugstore was emptied of the branded medicines and stocked up with generic medicines. Other Government-run medical stores also got generic medicines.
However, as the purchasing went up, the Redcross store started running out of stock. Tenders were floated after Assembly elections but only two responses were received. As the norm states at least three tenders are required to finalise the process, the course could not complete. Now fresh stock will not arrive unless a new tender is floated, which will be done only after the election results are declared and model code of conduct lifts up.
This is caused massive inconvenience to patients who cannot afford to buy branded and highly priced medicines. The Redcross drugstore has even put up a signboard saying that medicines are not available at the counter. When contacted, Cheif Medical Officer KR Sonwani admitted that generic medicines are not available at the Redcross drugstore. “But we can invite tenders only after the model code of conduct is lifted which will be after the election results are declared in mid-May,” he said.