Patients hit hard by the shortage of drugs, syrups at district headquarters hospital in Asifabad

The 300-bedded district headquarters hospital is a major source of medical services for the people, particularly the tribal population from remote parts of the district

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Patients have been hit hard by the shortage of drugs at the district headquarters hospital.

The 300-bedded district headquarters hospital is a major source of medical services for the people, particularly the tribal population from remote parts of the district. It registers around 500 outpatients a day. It sees a surge in outpatients following prevalence of seasonal diseases such as typhoid, malaria and dengue fevers.

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However, a list of unavailable drugs, syrups and injections has been pasted on walls of the hospital, urging patients to extend their cooperation with officials. The patients are left with no option, but to buy the drugs, syrups and injections from private medical stores, shelling out huge amounts. They expressed displeasure over the scarcity of the drugs at the facility.

“People from weak financial backgrounds and aboriginal tribals from interior parts of the district visit the hospital hoping their diseases would be treated for free. But they are facing inconvenience following the shortage of the drugs. Officials should take steps to address the challenge and to ensure availability of the medicines,” Kotnaka Vijay, a tribal organisation leader opined.

When asked, the hospital medical superintendent Dr Pavan concurred that the hospital was facing the dearth of certain drugs, syrups and injections. However, steps were being taken to avoid inconvenience to the patients. A report was submitted to higher officials seeking the drugs, he stated.

Meanwhile, two dialysis centres located at the district headquarters hospital and community health centre-Kaghaznagar, are experiencing the deficiency of iron tablets and injections meant for improving blood among patients of renal failure. The shortage is causing a financial burden of around Rs 10,000 on each patient per month.

The patients urged the government to resolve the deficiency of the tablets and injections at the earliest.