LUCKNOW: Six months earlier when TOI conducted a reality check of the government-run AMRIT (Affordable medicines and reliable implants for treatment) pharmacy at King George's Medical University (KGMU) the set up was found failing in providing even basic medicines to the needy, and the situation is no better even now. The patients are not even getting basic multi-vitamins and pain killers and the pharmacy does not remain open 24x7. In a repeat reality check, TOI found that the pharmacy still closes at night, which means that attendants have to go out for buying prescribed medicines and surgical items.
When the pharmacy was launched by Union health minister J P Nadda in August 2017, it claimed that 164 cancer drugs, 191 cardio-vascular medicines, stents, implants and 5,200 other medicines will be available at the 24x7 pharmacy at a discount of up to 60% on all medicines.
Shabana, attendant of a patient at Shatabdi phase I, said, "For the past 11 days that we are here, the pharmacy closes at 8pm. When doctors visit late and write a prescription, I call my brother-in-law to get them as somebody has to stay here and I cannot go alone at odd hours." Her brother-in-law said that at night he has to rush to Chowk for medicines.
Savita, another attendant, said, "I went to AMRIT pharmacy in day but they did not have the medicines prescribed for my patient. All medicines, even the vaporiser had to be bought from outside."
Bhanu Pratap, a patient, showed his prescription with marks from AMRIT pharmacy workers revealing that even multi-vitamins and pain killers are not in stock at the OPD counter.
When TOI asked KGMU spokesperson, Prof N S Verma, he said, "We will take appropriate action and ensure that the situation improves soon."