Work on central medicine store in Mancherial drags on

Work is being monitored by Telangana Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation System (TGMSIDCS). However, the work is being executed at a snail’s pace.

Mancherial: Work on a central medicine store (CMS) is dragging on for over three years, indicating laxity of officials and affecting services of government-run primary, community health centres and hospitals.

The store was sanctioned to ensure supply of medicines for 17 primary and 4 urban primary, three community health centres, 100 palle Dawakhanas, four Basti Dawakhanas, one area, one district headquarters hospital in the district at an estimated cost of Rs.3.5 crore in 2021. The funds were granted by the National Health Mission.

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However, a piece of over an acre was allocated to the store in Naspur mandal centre. The then finance minister T Harish Rao laid the foundation stone to the facility in April, 2023. Work is being monitored by Telangana Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation System (TGMSIDCS). However, the work is being executed at a snail’s pace. Foundation and pillars were constructed so far, slab and other civil works were yet be completed.

K Shashi Sriam, Additional Director from Directorate of Public Health, expressed displeasure over lethargic progress of the work when she toured the district recently. She instructed officials to take steps to address challenges hindering the progress of the work. She stated that measures would be taken to make sure each district has a store.

Officials of the TGSMIDC said that steps were being taken to expedite the work. They reasoned that the allocation of the land for the facility was delayed. However, it was learnt that the elected representatives were not showing interest to speed up the work since the store was sanctioned during the regime of the BRS government.

Meanwhile, a temporary warehouse of medicines was opened on the premises of government ITI. However, it was shifted to the mother and child hospital. It is unable to store large quantities of medicines required for health centres and hospitals. As a result, the health centres and hospitals are facing inconvenience due to severe shortage of medicines.

Officials of the primary, community health centres and area hospitals said that the dearth of medicines affecting the services. “Around 20 percent of the drugs are being supplied through the temporary store. Importantly, sufficient injections and certain tablets are not being provided to the centres and hospitals as required,” an official said.