Sandeep Mishra
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 28: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday unveiled the State Medical Corporation (SMC) which will procure and distribute free medicines to people. The SMC will transport drugs to district-levels which would subsequently reach the sub-centres across the state.
The move comes five months after the announcement of free drug policy by the government which would help people avail expensive drugs for free.
“Expensive medicines burn holes in the pockets of patients and their relatives which has been a major concern in public health sector. The move by the government would reduce the burden of expensive drugs on the patients and their relatives. The government has decided to implement free medicine distribution programme at government hospitals through the newly created medical corporation,” said Patnaik.
In the first phase, drug distribution will be confined to district headquarters hospitals and medical colleges and hospitals. It will reach primary health centres, community health centres and other sub-centres in subsequent phases.
“Central warehouses have been created at district levels to which distribution will be accomplished by the SMC. Proper management of inventory will also be ensured to avoid overstocking of drugs at one place. Initially, 200-odd drugs will be made available which will be further increased to 500-odd in subsequent phases,” said health department principal secretary Arti Ahuja.
Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati stressed sensitisation of doctors and other paramedics for prescribing generic medicines. “Doctors should be sensitised to prescribe generic medicines without which the drug distribution centres will be of no meaning,” said Pati.
“The state government has sanctioned `200 crore for the project. People will now be able to avail drugs ranging from minor fever to deadly diseases like cancer. We have achieved a milestone with initiation of the free drug policy in state,” said health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.
The inauguration of SMC here was also attended by the medical corporation managing director Roopa Mishra and officials of the health department and National Health Mission.
