BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Government has made it clear that doctors of State-run hospitals who are not prescribing medicines supplied under Niramaya scheme will be held accountable.
Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Dr Pramod Kumar Meherda said doctors have to explain and specify reasons if they do not prescribe the drugs available at Niramaya stores of the hospitals.
"Accountability would be fixed on doctors who are found advising patients to purchase medicines from stores outside. They have to cite reasons for not prescribing drugs provided by the Government,’’ he said.
After reviewing the progress of Niramaya scheme, which was launched in 2015 to provide free medicines to patients in all Government hospitals in the State, Dr Meherda said several steps have been taken so that people can take benefit of the scheme.
‘’Now, the medical officers have to submit the indent of medicines with signatures of specialists concerned. Doctors suggesting patients to purchase medicines from outside stores won’t be tolerated as most of the medicines are available under the scheme,’’ he said.
Though the drugs are purchased and supplied through Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL), the doctors need to understand that it is within the system and they should cooperate to make the scheme successful by prescribing medicines available in Niramaya store.
The Health Secretary said hospitals have been asked to set up a grievance cell and address the complaints of patients on non-availability of medicines at Niramaya stores besides resolving issues which are responsible for tardy progress of the scheme.
"We have to change the general perception of people that drugs available at State-run hospitals are of substandard quality,’’ Dr Meherda said and added that there will be regular audit of prescriptions to keep a tab on adherence of guideline by the doctors.
The OSMCL, which has been asked to ensure timely procurement of quality medicines and surgical items through a centralised online inventory management system, had made a budget of around `239 crore to purchase medicines and surgical items in 2016-17.