Jan Aushadhi store opens sans stock

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 20

The Jan Aushadhi Kendra (JAK) at the Civil Hospital, which had been lying closed for the past one month has been opened but the irony is that it sans medicines.

Jan Aushadhi Kendra was closed after its licence had expired and now, after the renewal of the licence, it has opened.

Although it has to be kept opened 24 hours, it is presently opened only for eight hours. Neither are there medicines nor are funds with the hospital authorities to buy medicines.

Whether the kendra is opened or closed, patients have to go through the same old story of buying medicines from outside.

Dr Geeta, Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, said they had sent the list of the medicines to the department and hopefully, they would receive the stock soon.

Suman Rani, a patient who had come to the hospital from Bahadur-ke-Road, said she went to the Kendra to buy medicines but had to return. “Left with no option, I would buy the medicines from the store outside,” she said.

Another patient, Shanker, said earlier, on two occasions, he had returned as the store was closed. However, on Tuesday, it was opened but of no use as no medicines are available here, he added.