Since the government began distributing free medicine from January 14 this year, health officials here have been collaborating to misuse the free medicine. The misuse is so serious the District Health Office (DHO) has concluded it cannot control the misuse and has requested the Ministry of Health form a powerful body to make investigations into the malpractice.
Morang DHO chief Dinesh Chapagain said health workers have been misusing the free medicine by issuing fake prescriptions.
“To check this practice, we have requested the Ministry of Health make it mandatory for health posts to keep a copy of prescriptions,” Chapagain said.
The government announced the free medicine scheme for the benefit of genuine patients. But the free medicine is finding its way to the blackmarket instead.
“Action will be taken after an investigation identifies the health posts engaged in such practice,” Chapagain said. The DHO will soon start inspecting health posts in the district for the purpose.
He added that people were contributing to the leakage by taking vitamin capsules they didn´t need.
The government scheme provides 22 free medicines to sub-health posts, 32 to primary health posts, and 40 to district hospitals.
In Morang, there are seven primary health posts, 10 health posts and 39 sub-health posts. The Morang DHO distributes medicine worth Rs 10.4 million to the posts in the district annually.
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