Bihar: BJP criticises govt over shortage of meds in hospitals

Patna, Mar 18: The opposition BJP on Wednesday criticised the Bihar government over "non-availability" of basic medicines in government hospitals and medical colleges due to which the number of patients visiting these hospitals has come down.

Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav said in the Legislative Assembly during Zero hour that as against arrangements during NDA rule when 33 medicines were given to patients in OPD in district and block hospitals and 112 medicines to indoor patients, today only 4-5 in OPD and 8-10 medicines in indoor are available.

Likewise, in medical colleges also there was a shortage of medicines.

He said in Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) against 66 medicines available during the NDA regime, only 18 are present today in OPD and for indoor patients against 120 medicines only 40 are available at present.

Yadav, speaking on Adjournment notice of party colleagues Prem Kumar and Binod Narayan Jha, said no antibiotics are available today in medicines.

Besides, there was an acute shortage of basic items like cotton, pain killers, bandage and gauge, among others.

He said the piquant situation was due to non-functioning of Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd, earlier tasked with purchase of medicines.

"After scam in medicine purchase came into light about nine months back, the body is non-functional creating shortage of medicines," he said.

Yadav said that the government has empowered Civil Surgeon to purchase medicines through tender process.

However, so far tenders have been floated only in 21 districts out of a total of 38.

The Opposition leader alleged that due to shortage of medicines in hospitals, the footfall has come down.

He said against a total of 36,000 patients visiting PMCH in a month in December 2013, the monthly footfall fell down to 22,000 in December 2014.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shrawan Kumar objected as under what rule was the opposition leader making a speech in the House on the subject.

This triggered protest from the BJP members.

Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary adjourned the House till 2 pm in view of pandemonium on the subject.

PTI