Bhubaneswar, 5 December (H.S.): The Opposition on Friday expressed deep concern over the condition of Odisha’s health department and medical services during the Zero Hour of the State Assembly. Chief Whip of the Opposition, Pramila Mallik, said the situation arising from non-functional dialysis machines at SCB Medical College and Hospital is extremely alarming.

Mallik stated that the problem is not limited to SCB alone. Dialysis services have come to a halt in several districts due to malfunctioning machines, causing severe inconvenience to patients. She pointed out that the previous government provided 200 types of medicines free of cost under the ‘Niramaya’ scheme, but the new government has reduced the list to 120. Even then, nearly 80 essential medicines from the revised list are reportedly unavailable to patients.

Urging the Health Minister to take immediate action, Mallik demanded that the availability of critical medicines be ensured without delay. She further warned about the increasing circulation of counterfeit drugs in the state and appealed to the government to take stringent measures to curb the issue.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda