No shortage of medicines for poor patients: K'taka CM

Bangalore, Dec 13: There was no shortage of medicines supplied to poor patients in Government hospitals, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda informed the Karnataka State Assembly today (Dec 13), but the opposition disgreed with him.

"Medicines are being supplied free of cost to poor patients in government hospitals and there is no resource crunch for purchase of life saving and other medicines", Gowda told U T Khadar (Cong) during question hour.

During 2011-12, a sum of Rs 75.78 crore has been earmarked for purchase of medicines and so far Rs 25.45 crore worth of medicines have been supplied to hospitals based on the demand submitted by them, he said.

Currently the district drug warehouses have medicine stocks valued at Rs 11.80 crore, he said and added that in case of emergency, the District Health Officers have powers to purchase medicines utilising Users Fund upon securing approval from Aryogya Raksha Committee.

While Khader said doctors in government hospitals were not providing free medicines to poor on the ground of non-availablity, Opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah and his party colleague Dr H C Mahadevappa said there was no availability of life saving drugs in hospitals.

Siddaramaiah said when he visited government hospitals in Nanajangud in Mysore District and Chamarajanagar, he found free medicines meant for poor patients were not available. Gowda said he would direct the Principal Secretary of the Health Department to inspect these hospitals and submit a report.

PTI