Chipilima: Niramaya outlets inside Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla in Sambalpur district wear a deserted look even as serpentine queues can be witnessed in front of private medical stores near the facility.
This speaks volumes of the efficacy of one of the most ambitious schemes of the government which was launched four years back to make healthcare affordable for all.
Free medicines are supplied to government hospitals for distribution among patients through Odisha State Medical Corporation (OSMC) under the scheme.
But, owing to the apathy of officials, most of the desired medicines are not available at the two Niramaya centres on the premises of the hospital.
The situation is similar in the Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres of the district.
Sources said around 80 per cent of medicines under the scheme are procured from OSMC while the rest is supplied by the District Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTDC) from various firms through tender. Besides, medicines are also bought locally in cases of emergency.
Quarantine test reports are required for procuring medicines from OSMC and DDTC. Without this, authorities at the central warehouse cannot supply medicines to the outlets.
Tularam Sahoo of Sundargarh said as there is no medicine available in the hospital, we are bound to buy medicines from drug houses outside.
‘The medicines are not available in the hospital under the scheme. With no options left, we are making loans for buying the costly medicines from outside the hospital’, said Virendra relative of a patient.
PNN