In a move to enhance affordable healthcare, the Assam government has directed government doctors to prescribe only those medicines available at hospital pharmacies while promoting generic alternatives to reduce costs for patients. Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal issued the directive on Friday after reviewing ongoing healthcare projects in Cachar district.
The minister emphasized that hospitals across Assam maintain 99% availability of essential medicines, ensuring uninterrupted treatment for patients. He also launched a WhatsApp helpline (9864541430) for the public to report medicine shortages, enabling quick government intervention.
Assam Government’s Focus on Affordable Medical Care
To improve transparency and efficiency, Ashok Singhal urged doctors in government hospitals to prioritize medicines available within hospital pharmacy units. This move aims to:
- Ensure easy accessibility of prescribed medicines for all patients.
- Reduce the financial burden by promoting generic alternatives over expensive branded medicines.
- Enhance public health infrastructure by streamlining medicine availability.
In a press conference, Singhal stated, “Our hospitals maintain nearly 99% availability of essential medicines. Government doctors should prescribe medicines available in hospitals to ensure affordability and accessibility for all.”
WhatsApp Helpline for Reporting Medicine Shortages
To address medicine shortages, the health minister launched a dedicated WhatsApp helpline (9864541430). The helpline will allow patients and caregivers to:
- Report medicine unavailability at government hospitals.
- Ensure timely government intervention to resolve shortages.
- Improve transparency in healthcare services.
The Assam government aims to use this digital initiative to strengthen public trust in the state’s healthcare system and improve accountability in hospitals.
Review of Healthcare Projects in Cachar District
During his visit to Cachar district, Singhal assessed the progress of ongoing healthcare projects and emphasized infrastructure upgradation to improve medical accessibility, particularly for underprivileged communities.
Key points of discussion in the review meeting included:
- Wage compensation scheme for pregnant women laborers in tea garden areas.
- Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) reviews.
- Strategies to combat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
The health minister assured that the Assam government is committed to strengthening healthcare facilities by providing necessary resources and ensuring universal access to quality medical care.
Promoting Generic Medicines for Cost-Effective Treatment
As part of the affordable healthcare initiative, Singhal emphasized the use of generic medicines instead of expensive branded drugs. Generic medicines have the same efficacy and quality but come at a lower cost, making healthcare more affordable, especially for economically weaker sections.
By directing government doctors to prioritize hospital pharmacy medicines and generic drugs, the Assam government aims to:
- Reduce medical expenses for patients.
- Ensure easy availability of prescribed drugs at hospitals.
- Minimize dependency on private pharmacies, where medicines may be costly.
Government’s Commitment to Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure
The Assam government continues to make major strides in improving the state’s healthcare system. Singhal reiterated the government’s commitment to providing better healthcare facilities, ensuring essential medicines, and upgrading infrastructure to benefit patients across the state, “Our priority is to ensure that every citizen receives the best healthcare without financial strain. The government is committed to improving medical facilities and ensuring the availability of essential medicines at all times,” Singhal added.
Strengthening Assam’s Healthcare System
The Assam government’s directive to prescribe hospital-available medicines and promote generics marks a major step toward affordable and accessible healthcare. By ensuring cost-effective medical treatment, reducing dependency on expensive branded drugs, and launching a WhatsApp helpline to monitor medicine availability, the government is taking proactive measures to improve public healthcare services.
The state’s focus on enhancing healthcare infrastructure, upgrading medical facilities, and addressing medicine shortages reflects a strong commitment to building a robust and transparent healthcare system. By prioritizing essential medicines in hospitals and promoting generics, the government aims to ease financial burdens on patients and ensure that even the most underprivileged sections of society receive quality medical care without excessive expenses.
Additionally, the Assam government’s review of healthcare projects in districts like Cachar demonstrates a comprehensive approach to improving healthcare services across the state. The emphasis on reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, providing support to tea garden laborers, and combatting non-communicable diseases further highlights a holistic vision for healthcare reform.
As Assam continues to make progressive strides in the health sector, these initiatives will not only improve patient care but also enhance public trust in the government’s commitment to their well-being. If implemented effectively, this strategy could serve as a model for other states, paving the way for a more inclusive and efficient healthcare system across India.
