Due to a lack of dispensers, homeopathic dispensaries struggle

The state’s homeopathic dispensaries are struggling because there aren’t enough dispensers. In Punjab, there are 110 regular dispenser positions; only 40 of them are filled, leaving 70 open. There are 107 positions at the National Health Mission-run dispensaries, 21 of which are open.

The homeopathic medical officials are filling prescriptions and getting the medications ready for patients in the event that dispensers are not available.

There are 225 dispensaries in the state in total; 111 of them are conventional homeopathic clinics run by the Punjab Government, and 114 of them are run by the National Health Mission (NHM).

Eleven of the district of Ludhiana’s 27 homeopathic dispensaries are run by the Punjab government. There are just two locations with dispensers: Kohara and the civil hospital dispensary. In a similar vein, Patiala district has two dispensers and six dispensaries. Six dispensaries are located in the Sangrur area, where there are also four open positions.

According to a homeopathic medical officer here, he could have done his job more effectively if there had been a dispenser at his dispensary.

After seeing a patient, I go to the pharmacy and make the medication. We have to spend a lot of time preparing medications on the spot. It becomes very tough for me to balance the two responsibilities on a regular basis,” he said.

The president of the Homeopathic Medical Officers Association, Dr. Balwinder Kumar, said that the organization has been contacting the government to fill such positions for some time now, but to no effect. As a result of successive administrations’ failure to close the gap, the clinics’ operations deteriorate.

When asked for his thoughts, Dr. Harinder Pal Singh, Joint Director, Homeopathic Department, said that more personnel is necessary for the department to run as efficiently as possible.

The final dispatchers were hired in 2000. Since then, a large number have retired, but no new hires have been made. Since more individuals are choosing alternative forms of treatment, we need additional employees to keep the dispensaries running well,” he said.