Poor to get free BP, diabetes medicines

Guntur : The state government has taken all the steps to distribute medicine for diabetes and hypertension (BP) thorough medical shops in the cities and towns free of cost for the poor patients.

The government took this decision to reduce financial burden on poor patients suffering from BP and diabetes patients spending thousands of rupees. The scheme will benefit lakhs of patients suffering from these two chronic diseases in the state. 

So far, patients from poor sections are visiting the government hospitals travelling long distances for taking the medicine. The government is already distributing the BP and diabetes tablets to the patients residing in the remote areas through the Chandranna Sanchara Vaidyasala.

Special Chief Secretary for the medical and health Poonam Malakondaiah informed the district medical and health officers (DMHOs) about the free distribution in the video conference. The government is expected to issue the GO to implement the scheme in a few days.

Currently, Andhra Pradesh Medical Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMIDC) is supplying the medicines to the government hospitals and making payments to the pharmaceutical companies. The government will bear this expenditure with the National Health Mission Funds. 

The government has already provided free delivery facility to the women from BPL families in corporate hospitals listed under the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust scheme to extend helping hand to the poor. It also introduced Mother and Child Express for the convenience of the poor and extending financial assistance for bypass surgeries and kidney transplantation under the NTR Vaidya Seva. 

In order to supply medicines free of cost to the patients suffering from BP and diabetes, the drug store would have to download the app and register their shop number with it. 

According to sources in the government, as soon as the government doctor in the NTR Vaidya Seva Scheme listed the hospital and certified that the patient is suffering from BP or diabetes, they will upload the details of the patients.  

However, the government is yet to clarify whether the scheme will be made applicable to white card holders or non-Income Tax payers. Speaking to the Hans India, Guntur DMHO Dr J Yasmin said, “The government informed about the scheme and will issue the GO to implement it. After the GO is released, we will take further action."