A Janusadhi Kendra opened in the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) here since April, 2012, has failed to stand up to expectations.
It is hardly serving any meaningful purpose for the patients although four years have passed since it became operational.
Although the main objective was to provide generic medicines to the patients at cheap rates in comparison to the branded medicines, yet the store exists for name's sake only.
Further, it is opened only between 8 am and 12 pm in the morning and from 4 pm to 6 pm in the evening against round –the- clock operation as per rule.
The reason for not operating the store is stated to be that there is only one pharmacist who is assigned with the store duty. More so, the crux of the problem is that it is alleged that the doctors in the DHH are not prescribing any generic medicines, despite strict instructions from the department.
About 1,000 patients while visit the DHH daily for various health-related issues, yet only 10 per cent of them take generic medicines from the store, it is learnt. CDMO Bibekananda Das claimed,“ The doctors are directed time and again to prescribe generic medicines only. Yet in some cases, they prescribe medicines of branded firms which are not available in the store.” He added that the doctors’ prescriptions are being monitored. A hospital staff, requesting anonymity, said, “The doctors are in habit of prescribing medicines of branded companies. Despite warning, they continue to do so. The instructions are only an eyewash.” However, Janusadhi centre in –charge pharmacist Suresh Behera claimed that about 280 types of generic medicines are available in the store.