Patients admitted to the emergency ward of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) will henceforth get free medicines for, at least, the first 24 hours.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the governing body of the semi-autonomous premier health hub on Saturday.

Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey chaired the meet while principal secretary, health, Vyasji, and IGIMS director and member-secretary Arun Kumar were in attendance.

Kumar said: “It was decided at the meeting that patients would be given free medicines for the first few critical hours in the hospital’s emergency ward.” How many hours would be considered “critical” would be decided at a later point and the decision would be implemented soon, the director said. “At present, patients have to pay for all the services,” he said.

Other government health hubs in the city, Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, provide free medicine to the patients.

Explaining why the decision was taken, Kumar said: “Often, when patients are brought to the emergency ward, their attendants or relatives do not have the money to get medicines from shops outside. Even the director does not have the power to provide free services. So, we often have to refer the patients to the Patna Medical College and Hospital.

“In the meeting, we raised the issue of providing free medicines in the first 24 hours. Usually, that is the critical period. After that, even the patients’ family can get medicine from the shops.”

Another important issue discussed at the meeting on Saturday was the private practice that some doctors of the IGIMS allegedly indulged in.

It was decided that if the director found any such practice, he would inform the principal secretary of the health department who would, in turn, constitute an inspection team.

“All doctors of the IGIMS get an allowance of 25 per cent of their total salary for not practising in private. It means that they should not indulge in private practice. But this norm is being flouted openly,” said Kumar.

He added: “Also, we have found that many doctors refer patients to other nursing homes and hospitals for tests that could be carried out at the IGIMS. The matter was discussed at the governing body meeting. I have been asked to inform the principal secretary of the health department if I detect any such malpractice.”

The governing body also gave its approval for the recruitment of teachers for IGIMS medical and nursing college. “The committee has selected 12 teachers for the medical and nursing college recently. The governing body gave its approval to the recruitment,” said Kumar.