Date: Mon, Sep 21, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Subject: FW: Three Month's issue of medicine
To: krish seth
My dear Gen, I read the assurance given by you to Chander Kamboj on Report my Signal and am therefore writing to you to bring you upto date on the issue. I had attended the ECHS seminar at Chandimandir 16 Jul and was part of the panel that put across the ESMs view of ECHS. The AG had issued instrs for issue of 3 months medicine to chronically ill patients requiring long term treatment. The Dr at the polyclinic was reqd to prescribe these medicines (for three months) after seeing the patient. The DGAFMS issued his own letter negating the AGs letter on the plea that it was unethical to issue medicines for long periods without a monthly review and also because it was not possible to issue medicines in bulk because it upset the already in vogue demand cycle. I had responded at the seminar (the above point was made by the DGMS Army who was part of the same panel) that in my personal case (Angioplasty) my Dr at Escorts always prescribed medicines and asked me to come back for a review after 6 months. The Polyclinic Dr was free to and infact should check and then prescribe 3 months. I also stated that practically at the Noida polyclinic I was always permitted to draw my 3 months quota by the Gynaecologist. This drew a laugh but the DGMS Army was not keen on pursuing the matter further. Subsequently I have learnt that the AG and DGAFMS have discussed the matter but the DGAFMS is sticking to his guns. Since medicines are procured through Med channels the DGAFMS has a veto. The supply cycle arguement is faulty. To ensure that there isnt a sudden spurt in demand all one has to do is break the entire patient population at a polyclinic into three. For eg at Noida Month one could be for issue of the 90 day quota only to patients with names A to H the others get 30 days. Month two 90 days for patients with names I to P and so on . The complete cycle would stabilize in just three months.
Please read the mail below to get a first hand feel of the actual problem.
Regards
Brig Sateesh Kuthiala
Dehradun (MH) ECHS Polyclinic has a goodlooking new building with a 'naturally heated' waiting hall for officers..without exhaust or windows....imagine the plight of the veteran officers and ladies.....the waiting period extends upto 2 hours + at times!!!!! The toilets located 50 mtrs away in the open cannot be used thru the year.
Coffee/tea vending machine has been removed. There is NO canteen / coffee shop to cater for the needs of the patients. The only, old canteen is located some 1 km away!
MEDICINES are 'usually' NA.....what to talk about 3 months issue. When querried, the reply is, "Contact the Comdt MH / lack of funds / etc etc".
FUNDS - surely adequate funds are bein allotted vis a vis the dependancy. Even when the 'best' salts are NOT
being purchased, how can the funds fall short?
Dehradun (MH) ECHS Polyclinic has been awarded as the Numero Uno Polyclinic. What are the yardsticks, QR,
was patient opinion obtained? NO! I was at Pune and drew medicines from ECHS Polyclinic earlier this year. If they can stock/issue 'better' medicines - why not at the so called #1 Polyclinic? Surely the 'same' authorization
has been given to all.
This matter of high handedness must be addressed at the higest forum at the earliest in the overall interest.
