SMS drug distribution to get online link

JAIPUR: All 26 free drug distribution counters at the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital will be connected online, and availability of drugs will be monitored online.
To cater to the increased number of patients, the hospital administration will open six more registration counters at the OPD from Friday raising their numbers from 12 to 18.
Medical and health department officials, including principal secretary B N Sharma and hospital superintendent L C Sharma, inspected SMS Hospital on Thursday.
They decided to keep a record of medicines' available to eliminate shortage.
Earlier, it was noticed that patients did not get all the medicines prescribed by the doctors, as they were unavailable at the counters. But, now the online monitoring would help in maintaining the stock.
Principal health secretary B N Sharma said, "An official of Union IT department was with us when we inspected the SMS Hospital on Thursday. With his help we will be able to connect all the drug distribution counters by November 30."
There are 26 drug distribution counters at the hospital, which are distributing free medicines under the chief minister's free medicines scheme launched on October 2.
Since the number of patients have increased from 2,700-2,800 (before launch of the scheme) to 5,400-5,500 per day now, the health department has decided to take steps to keep the facilities in place.
Sharma said there is scope for improvement as more patients arrive.
One registration counter at OPD will be reserved for the disabled and special patients while the number of counters for female patients would be increased to two.
For the pensioners, the registration counters will be increased to four. And as there were some complaints about the unavailability of medicines for pensioners, the department has decided to deploy an employee who will access the availability of medicines every week.