Assam Cabinet Approves Rs. 190 Crore For Free Medicine Scheme

GUWAHATI: In a significant stride towards enhancing public health care, the Assam Cabinet has sanctioned Rs. 190 crore for the implementation of the 'State Government Budget for Free Drugs Services' scheme. Through this, free drugs will be made available in government hospitals and health centers across the state with the objective to reduce the economic burden of health care for the locals.

The decision was taken at a weekly cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 4. The scheme aims to meet the growing out-of-pocket healthcare costs faced by many citizens, especially those in rural and underserved populations.

Meanwhile, the state’s health department had launched a helpline for the patients so that they could easily avail medicine at the government health centres or hospital, stated Health Minister Ashok Singhal. Addressing a press meet, Singhal said that 99 percent of medicines the doctors usually prescribe were available in the government hospitals and the patients need not procure these from the market. “If any patient, admitted in a government hospital, does not get the prescribed medicine, he can dial 986451430 to avail the drugs,” Singhal added.

Meanwhile, in another significant development, a 2% DA hike for state government employees and pensioners has been approved by the Assam Cabinet. The cabinet's approval for the 2% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) was announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. CM Sarma informed that the DA hike will come into retrospective effect from January 1, 2025.

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