By Anil Sharma, IANS,
Sirohi : In a unique initiative launched by Rajasthan’s Sirohi district administration, medical stores have been sought to contribute a certain amount of money every month to support the medical expenses of the poor and the needy here.
The chemists will raise about Rs.15,000 every month, which will be provided to poor patients who are unable to bear their medical expenses.
The district administration will identify the deserving patients, an official told IANS.
The initiative, which was launched a few days ago, is the brainchild of Sriram Meena, the Sirohi district collector.
“Many people come to us every month pleading for help as they are not able to purchase the medicines the doctors prescribe,” Meena told IANS.
He added: “Many of them are not included in the BPL (below the poverty line) category and so they can’t avail themselves of government schemes available for the poor.”
Some people, who get injured in accidents and need immediate treatment even before their relatives or friends arrive, find it difficult to buy the emergency medicine, Meena pointed out.
“We thought of a scheme where the chemists themselves pool in some money every month and use it to support the poor patients by providing them with free medicines,” the official said.
The district administration approached the office-bearers of the chemists association in Sirohi and the response was positive.
The chemists agreed to make every medical store owner here contribute a certain amount of money every month.
The association will provide the district administration with 30 coupons of Rs.500 each every month.
“The district officials will provide these coupons to the people in ned. They can present it at the medical shop along with the doctor’s prescription to buy the medicine,” the collector said.
If the cost of the medicine is above Rs.500, the hospital itself will give the necessary coupon, he added.
According to the official, the coupons have already been collected for the first time and they will soon be distributed.
The administration is pleased with the encouraging support from the medical store owners in Sirohi.
“We are happy to contribute the money and if we get a good response, the amount will be raised in the future,” a chemist said.
Ritesh Sharma, an activist, said the innovative scheme should be copied in all the districts of Rajastan.
“Across the state there are many poor people who do not get benefits from government schemes. The chemists will have no problem in contributing a small amount of money every month to this noble cause. This can save lives,” Sharma said.
(Anil Sharma can be contacted at [email protected])