Medicines beyond reach of patients at Rajindra Hospital

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, October 16

Even two months after the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Sehat Bima Yojana Scheme (ABSBY) by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in the state, free treatment (cashless) is still beyond the access of legitimate cardholders at Government Rajindra Hospital.

Poor patients have to wait for days to avail of the benefits under the scheme. Reason: The hospital is facing an acute shortage of medicines.

Despite repeated reminders from the state in-charge of the ABSBY, both respondents, the hospital authorities and the District Health Department, didn’t bother to provide medicines and other surgical items, thereby leaving the poor patients to their fate running from pillar to post to get medicines. In fact, only 357 people have availed of benefits under the scheme at the hospital. Meanwhile, the count of beneficiaries has touched 2,175 at government hospitals in the district.

Gurmel Singh, a cardholder from Sangrur district, accompanying his ailing wife, said: “We were hopeful that the scheme launched by the Punjab Chief Minister will be of some help. It seems that the scheme is only on papers. I had to purchase medicines worth Rs 2,500 from outside the hospital as my wife was to be operated upon for kideny stone.”

Despaired Seema of Samana town, who was accompanying her mother, said: “The scheme seems to be eyewash as it is not being properly implemented. It is unfortunate that there are no medicines at the hospital, which is the biggest government institution in the state. I think any scheme, which is meant for the poor, is found to be poorly implemented.”

Sources told The Tribune that there was a huge nexus between doctors at the hospital and private chemist shops around Rajindra Hospital. Therefore, some of the doctors were against the launch of the scheme at the hospital.

When asked about the lack of medicines at the hospital, Medical Superintendent Ashwani Kumar said: “Firstly, we were not aware of the launch of the scheme. Once it (scheme) was launched, we were informed that we had to provide medicines as well. Now, we have already demanded quotations for surgical items and medicines from each department.”

Kumar said they would send the requirements of every department to the Director, Research and Medical Education, for fixing the rate contract.

Rahul, District Coordinator of the ABSBY, said: “I am trying my best for the better implementation of the scheme. However, there are some lacunae which will be corrected soon.”

MS Dhaliwal, District Nodal Officer, ABSBY, said: “The health secretary has been already apprised of the shortcomings at the hospital.”