Availability of medicines at public hospitals: Punjab health official denies report on deduction in funds

The Health Department Punjab has contradicted a news items published in a section of press in which it was claimed that government has reduced funds for free medicines of public sector hospitals. This was said by an official of health department here on Monday.
He termed the news item as baseless and unfound, stated that provision of free medicines to the patients in government hospitals is continuing as per schedule and no deduction has been made in the funds allocated for this purpose. The spokesman said that Health Department had made contract with the pre-qualified firms for the supply of medicines on annual basis, and the concerned companies are providing the medicines to the Health Department as per routine, and the erroneous perception of any interruptions in the supply of medicines is baseless. He said that Health Department, under the Chief Minister's pro-patient initiatives, is providing free medicines in emergency and indoor patients at government hospitals.