BHUBANESWAR: The free drug distribution scheme Niramaya will be expanded to all community health centres (CHCs) by the end of August, Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said here on Monday.
The scheme, launched in May this year, has been operationalised in three medical college and hospitals, Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC), Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, Cuttack along with all 32 district headquarters hospitals and 27 sub-divisional hospitals by June-end.
The scheme would be rolled out in 377 CHCs and 84 other hospitals and health facilities run by the Government in these two months. In June, 4.50 lakh patients benefited from the scheme across hospitals where Niramaya is in operation.
More than 270 medicines and formulations are dispensed through free drug counters opened in all the facilities. On an average, more than 15000 patients are availing medicines from the outlets everyday.
Reviewing the progress of the scheme, Nayak emphasised on proper rendering of services to ensure that all patients reporting at hospitals are provided with the benefits. He also directed the hospital authorities to take expedient steps to set the prescription audit system in motion.