"Treatment is available, but no medicines" – this continues to be the persistent situation at the Government Dental College and Hospital (GDCH). For the past two years, there has been a long wait for the revival of the pharmacist’s post, without which a pharmacy cannot be operated in the hospital. As a result, dental patients are forced to buy medicines from outside medical stores.
This issue has persisted for the last 42 years, with no in-house pharmacy at the GDCH. Due to the absence of a pharmacist, the government does not supply medicines specifically for dental patients. Therefore, patients undergoing dental treatments such as tooth extraction, root canals, or surgeries are required to purchase painkillers and antibiotics on their own from private pharmacies.
Burden of Rs 100 to Rs 500
While various medical equipment is supplied to the dental college, medicines are not. Patients bear an extra expense ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 500 when purchasing medicines privately. The hospital administration has been continuously corresponding with higher authorities for the past two years to revive the pharmacist's post, but no decision has been made yet.
Medicines will be provided once a pharmacist is appointed
GDCH Dean, Dr Maya Indurkar said, “We have raised the demand at the higher level to revive the pharmacist’s post at the GDCH. Besides, we have requested a pharmacist from the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to be appointed on deputation. As soon as we receive a pharmacist, we will be able to start providing medicines to dental patients.”