Homeopathic dispensaries across Punjab have not received any medicines since 2022, leaving doctors to struggle to keep services afloat. The state operates 225 such dispensaries, of which 111 are regular government dispensaries and 114 function under the National Health Mission (NHM).
Medicine Procurement Failure
Medicines are normally procured through a tender process. A tender was floated about six months ago and was awarded to a Kerala-based firm. However, no supplies have been received yet, according to officials.
Dr Balwinder Singh, president of the Homoeopathic Medical Officers Association, highlighted the paradox: each practitioner is assigned a target of handling 18,000 patients and conducting 10 medical camps annually, yet they are not provided even basic medicines. “It has been four years since the last stock arrived and now doctors have been left to manage the working on their own. We are now requesting NGOs to extend help. Some doctors are shelling out money from their own pockets to keep dispensaries functional,” he said.
Reliance on NGOs and Self-Funding
Some doctors have turned to social organisations and NGOs to obtain medicines, while others dip into their own pockets to ensure patients are not turned away. A doctor from a government homeopathic dispensary confirmed he is taking help from a social organisation to keep the dispensary running.
The dispensaries under NHM are managing operations using the meagre funds made available to them, but this is insufficient to sustain regular services.
Official Response
Dr Harinder Pal Singh, Director of the Homeopathy Department, stated that the order has already been placed and supplies are expected by the end of this month. However, given the prolonged delay since 2022, doctors remain sceptical.
The situation has raised concerns about the state of public healthcare in Punjab, with homeopathic dispensaries serving as a primary healthcare option for many rural and urban patients. Without adequate medicine supplies, the effectiveness of these dispensaries is severely compromised.
