(a) whether there are provisions in the Central Government owned hospitals to provide free medicines to the needy and poor patients;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
(a) whether there are provisions in the Central Government owned hospitals to provide free medicines to the needy and poor patients;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS)
(a)to(c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 157 FOR 1ST MARCH, 2006.
In so far as Central Government Hospitals namely, Dr.R.M.L. Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hadinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, J.I.P.M.E.R., Pondicherry are concerned, all the medicines as per Hospital formulary are provided free of cost to the patients attending hospitals.
So far as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is concerned, all life saving emergency medicines and surgical items as per Institute`s formulary, are issued to all patients irrespective of their social and economic status. Certain essential drugs which are stocked in the Institute in limited quantity are issued only to those patients who cannot afford to buy such medicines. Patients admitted in private wards are, however, required to buy such medicines. Patients admitted in private wards are, however, required to buy the medicines (other than life saving/emergency medicines) themselves. Further, costly medicines and essential drugs (such as anti-cancer drugs, higher antibiotics) nutritional supplement and high cost surgical disposable etc. are required to be procured by the patients from their sources. For poor and indigent patient, there is a provision for financial help from the Hospital`s Poor Patients Fund.