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Fair price shops in Govt hospitals selling medicines at inflated prices

11/5/2017
Nitesh Sangral
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 5: The fair price shops opened by the government inside the premises of the government hospitals have turned 'unfair' as they are selling medicines to the gullible patients at prices higher than those prevalent in the open market, defeating the very purpose of opening such shops.


With the aim to provide drugs at discounted prices to the patients and their within the hospitals premises, the Health Ministry allotted tender in favour of national pharmaceutical company to open its outlets in the government runs hospitals but within few months of opening these outlets, the people are complaining that most drugs are available in open market at cheaper rates.

Two different bills are in possession of the Early Times, showing that drug namely "LIZOMAC -300ML" is being sold by Sanyog outlets for Rs. 225 by giving 10 percent discount while the same drug is available in the markets at Rs 210.
Sources within the hospital told Early Times that it is not only a single medicine, there are numbers of drugs which are available at cheaper rates in the open market than the Sanyog outlets.

A doctor, preferring anonymity, told that he had prescribed the particular drug to two different patients. "I was shocked to see the variation in the same drug but more surprising was that the Government allotted outlets--- which were setup in the hospitals to provide drugs to patients at discounted rates was selling at inflated rates compared to those private medical shops which are not giving discounts to the patients," he said.

Regional Sales Manager Jitender Singh said that he would look into the matter. Later, he told that few members from the pharmacy will meet ET journalist.

Interestingly, when matter was taken up with Controller of DFCO, Lotika Khajuria, she ducked the issue and evaded direct questions.


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