The endeavour of Maharashtra Government to provide free treatment to citizens at all hospitals run by Public Health Department has been getting positive results. For, the number of citizens visiting the Outpatient Department (OPD) has increased six-fold. The Government scheme was launched on August 15 last. Since its launch, the OPD number in Government hospitals has been up from around 500 to over 4,000. On the inaugural day (August 15) of the scheme, the collective count at OPD in two Sub-District hospitals and 12 rural hospitals was 643. By August 22, the number rose to 4,066. Under the scheme, various blood sample tests and radiological tests are done for free. Also, the Government has ensured adequate stock of medicines at these hospitals.

 

In a week, (August 15-22), 20,305 patients were registered at OPD and 695 at Inpatient Department (IPD). In city, people visited Daga Memorial Women Hospital, Regional Mental Hospital, Kamptee and Ramtek Sub-District Hospitals and Katol, Umred, Mouda, Parseoni, Kuhi, Hingna, Bhiwapur, Kalmeshwar, Deolapar, Saoner, Narkhed health centres. There are 53 Primary Health Centres (Primary Health Centres), 11 Aapla Dawakhana, 316 subcentres, 33 Ayurvedic and over 20 Allopathy clinics in Nagpur district. If one takes hospital-wise account into consideration, one would find the daily OPD count in PHCs at 4,750, 350 in Aapla Dawakhana, 10,000 in Ayurvedic and 2,100 in Allopathy. Similarly, over 100 patients have availed benefit of free health facilities at Daga Hospital. Earlier, patients had to pay Rs 10 for registration and test charges. Now, the Government hospitals do not charge a single rupee for registrations and medical tests.

 

The Government, in its guidelines, has clearly mentioned that doctors attending patients should direct them to purchase drugs or other consumables from in-house facility only. In case there are no adequate medicines available at such hospitals, then those should be made available through various grants the hospitals receive. People have to register themselves through official identity card. The patients will not have to pay for the tests. All the investigations like ECG, X-ray, CT Scan, laboratory tests are being done without charging a single penny. No fees should be charged while giving discharge to patients. Patients can call toll free number 104 and lodge their complaints, if any.