Nineteen Government Hospitals to sell insulin at subsidized price
The Tamil Nadu State Government will soon have insulin counters set up in 19 government college hospitals across Tamil Nadu that will sell insulin vials at a subsidized rate. These counters will also sell three types of immunosuppressant needed for renal transplant recipients at a rate much lesser than the market price.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will soon inaugurate these counters.
An insulin counter is already functioning in the Kilpauk Medical hospital since 2010 and another counter is being set up at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Government hospitals have been distributing free insulin for type-I or juvenile diabetes and medicine for type II for adults.
However, there are type II diabetes patients who require insulin shots to control their sugar levels but those from the economically weaker sections cannot afford it due to the high cost. That’s where the insulin counters come into play. These counters will sell the four types of insulin vials that would otherwise cost Rs 290-300, at a subsidized cost of Rs 80-90.
Instructions have already been sent from the Director of Medical Education to the heads of the government colleges to set up a counter with a space of 200 sq ft at a location close to the entrance with facilities, including air-conditioning and refrigeration. The present status of setting up of these counters in the colleges is being checked.
Officials said both insulin and drugs would
be purchased wholesale by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation and
distributed to these counters.
