Bhubaneswar, April 28: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today launched a Rs 200 crore free medicine distribution scheme named Niramaya (free from illness) to ensure better and quality medicine for patients at government hospitals.
The scheme will initially be available with the three government-run medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals, tertiary care centres, regional diagnostics centres, community health centres and later percolate down to the primary health centres and sub-centres.
Naveen, after the launching the initiative, announced that by the end of this year medicines for diseases such as cancer, haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia would be available free of cost.
The chief minister also inaugurated the corporate office of the Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL), a state government undertaking, to manage the free drug distribution scheme and its central warehouse near Ram Mandir Square.
Health and family welfare minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak spoke about several government initiatives. He stressed on the Rs 500 crore grant for the upgrade of the health care infrastructures in the state.
Nayak urged the doctors to help all patients and prescribe right medicines as the prescription audits will be carried out for efficient running of the medicine distribution mechanism through OSMCL.
Chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati called upon the medical fraternity to strictly prescribe only generic drugs for common patients. He also asked the OSMCL authorities to ensure an efficient supply chain mechanism for generics.
Health secretary Arti Ahuja said: "The entire mechanism of selection of drugs will be through a transparent process and procurement will be via e-tendering. There will be also an inventory management practice as it is always experienced that drug supply often faces over and under supply of medicines in the state.''
Managing director of the OSMCL Roopa Mishra said the Niramaya logo had the catchline "Healthy life is happy life".
All drug distribution centres (DDCs) will go for a major makeover with warehousing facilities and quick drug delivery practice.
An additional 598 pharmacists were hired and trained by the corporation to manage the DDCs.