Patients suffer as hospitals are prevented from buying drugs from sick public sector units. A Telegraph picture

Jamshedpur, March 4: Raj Nandan Singh, a 35-year-old resident of Olidih, lay writhing in pain, in a semiconscious state, at the MGM hospital. Both his hands had been cut off in a train accident. But, despite his deteriorating condition, he was not administered any medicines or saline. However, some of the visitors took pity on him and bought saline and injections from a nursing home.

This unusual situation at the MGM hospital is the fallout of a state government circular, which prevents health centres from buying drugs from sick units. After receiving the state government’s circular on February 10, medical college authorities have stopped buying saline, antibiotics and injections supplied by these companies. As a result, four types of saline (5% Dextrose, Dextrose-cum-normal, Ringer lactate and normal saline) and antibiotics like cefotoxin, ampicillin ciprofloxarine, norflox and benclox are also said to be out of supply.

These essential drugs are manufactured by Bengal Chemicals and Hindustan Antibiotics.

Hospital superintendent, Dr Chowdhary, expressed his helplessness about the existing problem. He says, “ I have to float a tender for the purchase of fresh stock of saline and antibiotics. But this being the fag end of the financial year, no tender can be floated. Till then, people will continue to suffer.”