A delegation of the Manav Adhikar Suraksha Manch, a philanthropic organisation fighting for human rights, went in a procession and submitted a memorandum to the Ganjam district Collector against the proprietors of medical stores operating business in the premises of the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here for non-adherence to the directives of the State Health Department for giving a 15 per cent discount to the patients purchasing medicines.
The Health Department in its circular to all medicine stores, particularly those operating in the premises of Government medical colleges, has instructed them to allow 15 per cent of discount on every medicine bill of the patients. Despite it, most of the medicine stores are not giving the prescribed discount to the patients taking advantage of their innocence as most of the patients hail from rural areas.
In case a patient or his ward demands the discount, he is replied that “There is no stock of the medicine”, said the Manch’s memorandum. There is a clear nexus between the district health administration, the medical college authorities and the medicine shop owners, for which the Government does not take any action, the delegation alleged.
The delegation strongly demanded a probe into the issue and take stern action against the erring officials of the medical college and the medicine store owners. The delegation was led by Manch coordinator advocate Abani Kumar Gaya.
Among others who joined the delegation were Manch general secretary Maguni Nahak, joint secretary Prasant Kumar Das, Bijay Chandra Bisoyi, Bansidhar Bhuyan, K Srinivas Rao and Prabhat Sadangi. The memorandum was received by SDPO Ashok Kumar Pattanik on behalf of the Collector.