NMC proposes to give medicines of cost

NAGPUR: After the proposal to constitute a Private Hospital Regulatory Authority, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation has proposed to launch a Medical Prescription Free Scheme in 50 (proposed) public health centres (PHCs) and 10 community health centres (CHCs). Medicines will be distributed free of cost to the patients under the scheme.
The NMC health consultative committee took this decision on Friday. After giving its nod, the committee has sent the proposal for the general body’s approval.
According to details, the scheme will be launched under the central government’s National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). The centre had already approved to fund the construction of 50 PHCs, which will act as outdoor patient department (OPD), and 10 CHCs, which will be indoor hospitals with 200 beds each under NUHM scheme.
The centre had made provisions to also fund the distribution of medicines free of cost to the patients under NUHM scheme subject to launch of Medical Prescription Free Scheme. The proposal will be submitted with the centre after the general body’s nod. Any type of medicines will be given free of cost to patients of any categories at the PHCs and CHCs.
Chairman of health consultative committee Ramesh Shingare told TOI that efforts will be taken to also provide medicines free of cost to patients hailing from BPL or poor families in case they are referred to private hospitals. “We will make this proposal too to the centre,” he said.
In the current condition, the NMC is also providing medicines free of cost at its indoor hospitals and health posts. But very few types of medicines are available and that too not on regular basis. Once funded by the centre, the benefits can be effectively passed on to the needed persons.
In the meeting, the committee has also taken a decision to ban slaughtering and selling of meat on seven more days in a year. Currently, the state government had placed prohibition of slaughtering and selling meat on seven days including Independence Day, Republic Day, Ramnavmi, Mahaveer Jayanti, Gandhi Jayanti, Sadhu Vaswani Jayanti and Savanstari.
The additional dates are Gokulasthtami, Gay Baras, Laxmipujan, Ganesh Chaturti, Gudipadwa, Ambedkar jayanti and Baudh Pournima. Shingare said the proposal requires the government’s approval.
Two more decisions taken in the meeting include the proposal to the government to again give powers of gradation and action on eateries and preparation of action plan to prevent from dengue cases in next year.
IN A NUTSHELL
* NMC is providing medicines free of cost to patients at its indoor hospitals and health posts
* Very few medicines are made available that too not on regular basis
* Centre assured to fund for medicines in case the NMC launch Medical Prescription Free Scheme
* Any types of medicines can be provided free of cost at proposed 50 PHCs and 10 CHCs to be constructed under NUHM scheme
* Efforts to be taken to also provide medicines free of cost to BPL and poor patients bringing reference from private hospitals