In Nagpur, poor patients at Mayo start getting free medicines under govt scheme

NAGPUR: A sting operation by some pharmacists, followed by a series of TOI reports on the alleged irregularities at Mayo Hospital about illegal medicine sale in wards, has led to the economically weaker patients getting benefit of government schemes for free medicines.
On Wednesday, TOI received image of a prescription form which is supposed to be filled by patients to avail the benefit of free medicines under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana at Mayo Hospital. The filled-up form, which has name of the patient, diagnosis, ward number and name of medicines, is signed by one Dr Wasim for issuing the medicines free-of-cost. This is unlike in the past, as per a Mayo hospital insider.
“The patient will be eligible to get medicine worth around Rs1,200 free of cost,” said pharmacist Nishant Gupta after referring the market price of the medicines prescribed in the form.
Dean Dr Sanjay Bijwe said patients cane get free medicines under two health insurance schemes, one of the Central and another of state government. Though Bijwe didn’t attribute the development to the sting operation, he said many more positive changes are on the cards. “We are discussing issues that need to be rectified and implementing schemes in their true spirit,” said the dean adding he would soon submit the internal committee report on the sting operation conducted in ward no. 44 of the surgical complex on February 15.
“The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) should have focussed on the medicine issues rather than blaming the Mayo hospital,” said the dean.
The dean also said the latest government resolution (GR) giving the Directorate of Medical Education and Research powers to procure medicines will help address delays in getting medicines from Haffkine Institute.
Sources stated the free medicine were always available but only a handful got the benefit. “Private hospitals get monetary benefit for implementing the government schemes. In government hospitals, doctors get nothing and hence few took pains to fill up the forms and complete formalities. Post the sting operation and TOI expose, doctors have been motivated to do the formalities for the free medicine schemes,” said the source.
TOI had also exposed how doctors and nurses of Mayo Hospital are issuing “prescriptions” without doctor’s or patient’s names, department, hospital seal and other format as prescribed by the Maharashtra Medical Council and Medical council of India.
On Tuesday, pharmacists in the vicinity of Mayo Hospital had shared with TOI prescriptions “issued from the Mayo Hospital in proper format for the first time in many years”. “It was only after the sting operation that the hospital doctors are now sending prescriptions as per norms,” said Gupta.