Medicine supply likely to normalise by Tuesday:

KOLKATA : More than half the drugs normally available at the drug store of Medical College and Hospital Kolkata that had caught fire last Wednesday remained out of stock on Saturday. Since reopening on Friday, the store that distributes drugs to the various departments of the hospital, has failed to cater to most patients who have been forced to buy medicines from shops outside the hospital. The hospital authorities, however, claimed that supply will turn normal by Tuesday.



Medical College Hospital deputy superintendent Jayanta Sanyal said all drugs should be available by Tuesday. “We have lost almost our entire stock. It will take time to replace the entire inventory, but we are trying to expedite the process. Talks are on

with our suppliers to make sure that the stocks are replaced early next week,” said Sanyal. He added that demand for medicines was high since the hospital catered to more than 8500 patients everyday. “Medical College attracts patients from all over south Bengal. It’s difficult to replenish the entire stock in a matter of a few days. But we will do it,” added Sanyal.

Around 6000 patients are treated at the outdoor department of the hospital everyday while 2000 are treated indoors. More than 600 receive treatment at emergency. “Almost every patient needs drugs which are given free of cost. The volume is huge and procurement takes time. Patients are finding it difficult but things will fall into place,” said Sanyal.

Meanwhile, queues remained short at fair price shop of hospital on Saturday even as many buyers returned disappointed. Forty-year-old Sanjoy Das had travelled all the way from Singur to buy medicines for his cousin who has just been released from the hospital. “Other than the discount, what made me come here is the fact that most drugs are generally available here. Since the shop has reopened, I had expected that it will function normally. But they couldn’t give me the most important medicine in my prescription,” rued Das.

Kankurgachhi resident Anjan Ray didn’t get any of the drugs prescribed for his nephew who is admitted at the hospital. “Most medicines that I need are expensive and the hospital couldn’t provide them due to the fire,” said Ray.