Even as the Jan Ausadhi stores on the premises of district headquarters hospital and VSS Medical College and Hospital at Burla were to be made operational in mid-February, they are yet to see the light of the day.
These stores selling generic medicines were to be operated through the Red Cross Society.
In fact, a decision in this regard was taken by the then Sambalpur Collector PK Rath on January 28. While it was decided to place the CDMO in charge of the store in DHH, the Superintendent was asked to monitor the Jan Ausadhi outlet at VSS Medical. Interestingly, the building constructed to house the Jan Ausadhi store on the district hospital premises was inaugurated in 2006 and continues to be locked. Though an advertisement for appointment of pharmacists and assistants was few months, there was no follow-up action.
Sources said even in other districts of the region where Jan Ausadhi stores have been opened in the DHHs, there are not much of generic medicine stocks available and doctors continue to prescribe allopathic medicines.
Sambalpur Collector Balwant Singh said the delay was the result of the lackadaisical attitude of doctors and the authorities concerned.