Srinagar, Mar 29: Shortage of funds has affected the free distribution of medicines at Lal Ded Hospital, Valley’s sole maternity healthcare institute.
 Poor patients, especially those coming from far flung areas have to purchase costly medicine from private medical shops outside the hospital.
 Though some medicines are provided to the patients at hospital, in terms of cost, the attendants say they have to purchase almost 70%-80% from their own pockets.
 Muhammad Rajab, attendant of a hospitalized patient, had to buy costly antibiotics from market as he couldn’t get them from the hospital.
 “What sort of govt. hospital is this? We don’t even get essential medicines here; all we can get here are some bottles of glucose”, said Rajab.
 When this correspondent asked Medical Superintendent of Lal Ded Hospital, about the shortage of medicine he shifted the blame on the fiscal end saying shortage of medicine occurs around this period due to “shortage of funds”.
 Observers said the hospital should create a “buffer stock” of medicine to avoid the shortage at any time.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST