The much-hyped Niramaya scheme of the State Government that aims at providing at least 572 generic medicines free of cost to the poor has failed to yield any benefit in Nabarangpur district.
The scheme was launched on May 1 last year in the district.
The Government had decided to open five Drug Distribution Centres (DDCs) to supply the generic medicines in the district. However, only three have been operational so far. Moreover, these DDCs are supplying only 60 types of tablets and syrups though they have a list of 102 generic medicines. As a result, the patients are being forced to buy branded medicines at higher prices from the medicine stores inside the District Headquarters Hospital premises and in different parts of the town.
“While the Health Department is allowing private medical shops and medicine stores in the District Headquarters Hospital campus, the common people are suffering a lot. Stringent actions should be taken against the persons and officials who have deliberately failed the delivery of generic medicines here,” demanded senior lawyer of Nabarangpur Narasingha Tripathy.