Tinsukia: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital and Dibrugarh Pharmaceutical Wholesalers’ Forum, in association with Dibrugarh Press Club, have decided to provide medicines at subsidised rates to COVID-19 patients in Assam‘s Dibrugarh district.
The scheme, named Arogya Covid Aushadhi Sewa, is likely to financially benefit thousands of families whose members have been infected by the novel coronavirus.
“Hearing about the difficulties of COVID-19 patients, we felt like extending a helping hand to those in need. On deliberation, an aspect that came to our mind was financial impact. Hence, we decided to help COVID-19 patients by providing them medicines at subsidised prices,” Suresh Agarwal, advisor to Dibrugarh Pharmaceutical Wholesalers’ Forum, told EastMojo.
For this, we joined hands with Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital, as it is a charitable trust, Agarwal said. “They have assured us that they will sell the medicines and surgical items to all COVID-19 patients at a maximum margin of 10 per cent. Since our motto is to help people in the toughest times of our life, we shall supply COVID-19 related items to the hospital pharmacy at less cost,” Agarwal said, emphasising that there will be no compromise with the brand and quality.
Highlighting the benefit, Agarwal said that in 90 per cent of COVID-19 patients, Meropanam injections are being administered. “The injection, which has an MRP ranging from Rs 900 to 1,200 depending upon the brand, will now be provided to patients at somewhere between Rs 350 and 400,” he said.
According to Agarwal, Pipracilin + Tazobactum 4.5 mg injection that carries an average MRP of Rs 265 (varies from brand to brand) will now be available to COVID-19 patients at around Rs 125.
“Similar pricing will be made for surgical items. For example, an IV drop set required to administer saline water will now be available to COVID-19 patients at merely Rs 20 and IV canula required to administer injections will we given to them at Rs 45 approximately. They carry MRP from Rs 160-180 and Rs 170-180, respectively,” added Agarwal.
Also read: COVID-19: Why this Guwahati doctor raised a red flag over home quarantine
Normally, hospitals sell medicines and surgical items to patients at MRP. In rare cases, they allow a discount of 10 per cent on MRP. In the current scenario, reports are doing the rounds that merely pharmacy bills of several COVID-19 patients treated at various private hospitals across India have run into lakhs of rupees.
“Any COVID-19 patient in Dibrugarh district, irrespective of whether he/she is admitted at government hospital, Covid care centre, private hospitals or home isolation, will be eligible for this scheme, provided they carry a valid prescription from a doctor,” Agarwal said, adding, “The subsidised medicines can be purchased from the pharmacy of Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital from 8 am to 8pm.”
The benefits will be extended to all medicines and surgical items required in treating COVID-19 patients.
The attendants of patients can reach the pharmacy of Marwari Arogya Bhawan Hospital at 9401816336, 6003635312 for any assistance.
Anil Poddar, secretary of the hospital and Dibrugarh Press Club, said, “We are looking for ways to arrange delivery of medicines to patients at home isolation.”
The Dibrugarh Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Forum has also written to various manufacturers to extend special discounts so that the same can be passed on to COVID-19 patients. It also appealed other private hospitals to extend all possible help to COVID-19 patients, underlining that this is the time to think and move beyond earning money and calculating profits.
