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Maharashtra: Severe shortage in medicines in district hospitals, says Jan Arogya Abhiyan

Nearly 40% of essential medicines out of stock in civic hospitals in 6 districts

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Almost 40 per cent of essential medicines are out of stock in public hospitals in at least six districts in Maharashtra, said a survey conducted by the health activists associated with Jan Arogya Abhiyan (JAA), a Pune-based network of NGOs. Health activists surveyed district hospitals in Pune, Satara, Solapur, Beed, Osmanabad and Nagpur, out of which three hospitals were linked with Government Medical Colleges.

"In the survey which was conducted in this month, we visited and took stock of the availability of 132 essential medicines and consumables in six wards across six district hospitals. Only about 20% of those medicines were having adequate stock (enough to last one week), and about one third of the required stock was nil. Most patients are forced to purchase these medicines when they are entitled" said Dr Abhijit More, co-conveyor, JAA.

According to the survey report, syrups were the least stocked medicines with almost 69% of them not available at all, followed by tablets at 46%. Surgical materials however fared relatively better than medicines as far as availability is concerned, though gloves and masks were available in only 50% instances. With only 8% medical supplies stocked sufficiently and 45% of supplies not available at all, the Osmanabad District Hospital fared badly. Pune also had didn't have 41% of medicines in stock, however it purchased 18% of the supplies locally.

"The local purchasing, done on the basis of MRP of branded medicines, is much costlier than generic and bulk purchasing, and is justifiable only to overcome shortage of few medicines. However when major percentage of supplies are acquired through this method it is clear that the problem lies in the management of the budget and then the distribution of medicines. The budget of Rs 600 crore is sufficient, however the management of it is an issue." said Dr More.

"We need to form a corporation based on the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Model, which will ensure transparency in purchase of medical stocks and adequate stock." said Dr Anant Phadke, another health activist.

Jan Arogya Abhiyan and other associations such as the state level ASHA (accredited social health activists) unions, Maharashtra Association of Gazetted Medical Officers, Maharashtra Government Nurses Federation, Maharashtra State Pharmacists Organisation have formed an alliance and plan protests across districts to voice 17 demands including ensuring medical supplies and providing minimum wage to ASHA workers.

"Around one lakh health workers were protest outside Matoshree (residence of Shiv Sena chief) and Varsha (residence of the Chief Minister) in January if our demands are not met." said Com. Shankar Pujari associated with the Asha Facilitator's Union.

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