The Meghalaya cabinet on Wednesday approved the free drugs policy in line with the national free drugs policy.
The cabinet decision assumed importance in the wake of complaints that enough medicines were not available on many occasions in government-run hospitals and health centres in the state.
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The cabinet also approved the proposal to enhance the limit for purchasing of vehicles for VIPs right from the governor, chief minister, deputy chief minister and ministers besides chief secretary down to the level of district level officers.
Announcing the cabinet decisions after the meeting in the main secretariat here, deputy chief minister and spokesperson of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, Preston Tynsong said that under the free drugs policy of the state 72 items of medicines would be supplied free of cost to all government hospitals and health centres — from district hospitals to health sub centres and dispensaries in rural areas.
He said that the expenditure would be borne between the Centre under the National Health Mission and the state government on the ratio of 90:10.
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“This policy has been adopted in line with the policy of the Central government,” he said.
Asked about the requirement of medicines outside the list of 72 items, Tynsong said that if such requirement arises, the government would have to procure the medicine then.