ESI dispensaries ailing for want of medicines

Secunderabad: The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospital and dispensaries in the city are facing an acute shortage of medicines for the past six months. ESI dispensaries do not have essential medicines for BP and diabetes. Patients are forced to buy medicines form private dispensary.

1. For six months, they are not providing essential medicines for BP, diabetes
2. 161 out of 292 medicines are not available due to non-supply of medicines
3. 45 dispensaries in city also facing a dearth of doctors and paramedical staff
4. 1,090 outsourced staff in ESI hospitals, dispensaries not paid for 9 months

The annoyed patients along with CPI (M) officials staged a dharna outside the Directorate of Insurance Medical Services office, Bhoiguda, on Monday, demanding supply of medicines to the dispensaries immediately.

M Srinivas, the city secretary of CPI(M), said, "In the recent survey it has been found that 161 medicines are not available out of 292 types due to non-supply of medicines in a city ESI dispensary. The same is the situation in other centers too. He also alleged that there is a dearth of doctors and paramedical staff."

There are around 45 ESI dispensaries in the city and 1,090 outsourced employees working in ESI hospitals and dispensaries in the city. The employees have not received salaries for the last nine months.

"For the past last 3 months, ESI dispensary at Kavadiguda does not have even simple BP tables and simple energy drinks like ORS. So I am forced to buy medicines from outside," said Srihari, a patient.

Lalita, in-charge medical officer, ESI dispensary, Kavadiguda, said, "We are facing so many problems, but are helpless. We are representing the issue to higher-ups, but are not getting medicines."