Hindustan Times 11.03.2010
As BMC faces cash crunch, no branded medicines for its hospitals this year tooCivic-run hospitals will not get branded medicines this year too as the municipal body is facing a financial crisis.
The BMC has been demanding this for the last three years.
The members of the standing committee have been insisting that the contracts for 96 medicines and other medical paraphernalia be awarded to reputed brands.
Last year, the cost was Rs 60 crore and it has escalated to Rs 80 crore this year.
Eighteen companies have come forward for the contract, of which only two are branded.
“The contract should be given to reputed firms not to any small-time distributors. For the last three years we have been demanding that but the administration hasn’t done anything yet,” said BJP corporator Yogesh Sagar.
Municipal Commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya had said that by bringing in brands the cost of the medicines will shoot up by Rs 100 crore and with the fiscal crunch it will not be possible this year.
The standing committee has not taken a decision on the proposal.
“Most of the hospitals don’t have enough medicines and the poor have to buy medicines from chemists, which they cannot afford every time,” said Sena corporator Rajul Patel.
The proposal for the stocks of the entire year will be discussed in the next meeting.
