Mohali, July 28 — Civil surgeon Dr Sangeeta Jain has pulled up the senior medical officer (SMO) of Dera Bassi Civil Hospital for serious lapses in the prescription and distribution of free medicines meant for patients under government healthcare schemes.
During a surprise inspection on Sunday, Dr Jain found that patients were being directed to purchase medicines from private chemists, despite the government’s provision of 336 essential drugs free of cost.
“I spoke to several patients who had just bought medicines from nearby chemist shops. Their prescriptions clearly showed that doctors were neither prescribing generic medicines nor informing them about the free drug scheme,” said Dr Jain.
She added that the practice of pushing patients toward private pharmacies not only defeats the purpose of the public healthcare system but also amounts to a serious violation of government policy. “Any doctor directing a patient to buy medicine from outside is committing a criminal act,” she stated.
The civil surgeon’s inspection also included a visit to nearby medical shops, where she confirmed that many patients were unaware that they were entitled to receive medicines free of cost at the hospital.
“The Punjab government has not only supplied a standard list of medicines but also sanctioned additional funds to SMOs for purchasing non-listed but necessary drugs,” Dr Jain explained. “There is no excuse for failure to provide medicines.”
She stressed that both resources and responsibilities had been clearly defined under state health protocols, and any negligence or deliberate misconduct would invite strict disciplinary action.
An internal inquiry is expected to follow based on the SMO’s explanation and examination of the hospital’s records.
