Question : FREE SUPPLY OF MEDICINES BY GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS

(a) whether medicines are made available free of cost to the patients in the Central Government controlled hospitals and its associated institutes including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether complaints have been received with regard to the inferior quality of medicines being given to the patients in the aforesaid hospitals;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken/being taken in this regard; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure better quality and adequate supply of free medicines being provided in these hospitals?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) & (b): In so far as three Government Hospitals are concerned, all medicines are provided free of cost to indoor patients. Medicines not available in the hospital are procured from authorized local chemist by the hospital authorities on emergency basis. In OPD also medicines are dispensed free of cost to the patients on valid prescription of the doctors of these hospital as per hospital formulary. As far as AIIMS is concerned, generic medicines are being provided to OPD patients free of cost at New Delhi and Jhajjar campuses. In so far as PGIMER, Chandigarh is concerned the patients who are admitted in the general ward are given free medicines, which are available in the hospital pharmacy.

(c) & (d): No such complaints have been received with regard to the inferior quality of medicines being given to the patients.

(e): As far as the above stated Central Govt. Hospitals are concerned, supply of the Drug is accepted only after getting the test report from the supplier of every batch of medicine supplied. Medicines received are inspected by the inspecting committee before the distribution. In AIIMS, a Monitoring Committee has been constituted for ensuring the quality and adequate supply of free generic medicines to OPD patients.