Rawalpindi: The administrations at the three teaching hospitals in town including Holy Family Hospital (HFH), Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital (District Headquarters Hospital) are working on developing a proper system to ensure provision of as many as 146 essential medicines to patients round the clock as per the Punjab government’s directives though 100 per cent compliance with the orders is yet to be achieved.
The Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department of the Government of the Punjab has approved a ‘Critically Essential Medicines List (CEML)2025’ for mandatory and round the clock availability of medicines to the patients in emergency departments, outdoor patient departments and in wards in all public sector teaching/tertiary care hospitals in the province.
As per the notification issued on July 30 this year, all public sector teaching/tertiary care hospitals under the administrative control of SHC&ME Department shall ensure continuous availability of CEML as part of each institution’s baseline inventory without failure. The notification states that the CEML is drawn from the already notified Standard Medicines List, the WHO Essential Medicines List and EML of Pakistan notified by the DRAP (Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan).
The CEML containing 146 medicines includes anti-infective medicines, anthelmintics, anti-viral medicines (Acyclovir), medicines for treatment of hepatitis B and C including Entecavir, Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir, anti-malarial medicines, anti-protozoal medicines, anti-fungal medicines, immunomodulators, steroids, antianemia medicines, medicines affecting coagulation, blood products of human origin and plasma substitutes, cardiovascular medicines, antithrombotic medicines, lipid lowering agents, dermatological medicines, radio contrast media, antiseptics and disinfectants, gastrointestinal medicines and medicines for diabetics including insulin and tablets.
The list also includes thyroid hormones and antithyroid medicines, medicine for disorders of the pituitary hormone system, anaesthetics, pre-operative medicines and medical gases, medicines for pain and palliative care, ophthalmological and OTIC preparations including eye and ear drops, muscle relaxants and cholinesterase inhibitors, medicines for reproductive health and prenatal care, medicines for respiratory tract, antiallergics and medicines used in anaphylaxis, medicines for disease of the nervous system and infusions.
It is important to mention here that the compliance with the directives of the government would make treatment and management free of cost for almost all patients visiting the teaching hospitals. The administrations of the three teaching hospitals in town claimed to have started provision of medicines to all patients in emergency, OPD and in-door departments but still a few complaints are being recorded belying their claims.
The HFH is providing all medicines according to the CEML to each and every patient in wards and to those visiting emergency department of the hospital though the compliance of the government’s directives is around 85 to 90 per cent in OPD because drug testing is in progress for some of the medicines, the HFH has received, said Medical Superintendent at HFH Dr. Ijaz Butt while talking to ‘The News’.
He added that within the next two weeks, the HFH would be able to provide all medicines to patients visiting any of the departments at the hospital. We are providing implants and surgical disposables to patients in critical areas through local purchase, he said.
