Rajasthan Agricultural University Pensioners’ Federation Raises Alarm Over Medicine, Diagnostic Shortages in Government Hospitals

UDAIPUR, The Rajasthan Agricultural University Pensioners’ Federation has expressed grave concern over the alleged shortage of medicines and inadequate diagnostic facilities in government hospitals across Rajasthan, claiming that the situation is severely affecting pensioners, senior citizens, and the general public.

In a joint statement, Federation State President Er. Virendra Singh Solanki and General Secretary Er. Arvind Kaushal said the Rajasthan Medical and Health Department has issued clear written directions requiring all government hospitals to provide every patient with all essential medicines free of cost. They noted that if a medicine is unavailable in a hospital, it should be procured immediately from the local market and supplied to the patient, rather than asking patients to purchase it from private pharmacies.

The Federation alleged that these directives are not being followed in most government hospitals. According to the statement, hospital authorities frequently cite inadequate budget allocations for local procurement of medicines, forcing thousands of patients, including pensioners and senior citizens, to purchase costly medicines at their own expense.

Federation Vice Presidents Dr. R.S. Chawda (Jodhpur), Dr. Surendra Kumar Bhatnagar (Udaipur), Dr. Arun Kumar Sharma (Kota), Manphool Mangliya (Bikaner), and Moolchand Jat (Jobner) also highlighted problems under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS). They claimed that many empanelled private pharmacies have either stopped dispensing medicines or are providing only limited supplies because of delays in government payments and alleged arbitrary deductions. As a result, patients are finding it increasingly difficult to access prescribed medicines.

The Federation’s State Ministers Dr. Bharat Singh Bhimawat (Jodhpur), Nemaram (Bikaner), Mohanlal Changwal (Jobner), Mahavir Sharma (Kota), and Dr. Bhupendra Upadhyay (Udaipur) said the state has yet to complete comprehensive empanelment of private pharmacies, diagnostic laboratories, and imaging centres. Consequently, patients—particularly RGHS beneficiaries—are often compelled to pay for diagnostic tests and imaging services at private facilities when such services are unavailable in government hospitals, with no reimbursement for the expenses incurred.

State Organising Secretary Er. Surendra Bhushan Sahay (Udaipur) said the present situation undermines the Rajasthan Government’s commitment to providing accessible and free healthcare. He added that the lack of timely medicines and diagnostic services has placed an unnecessary financial burden on pensioners, senior citizens, economically weaker sections, and other patients.

The Federation has urged the Rajasthan Government to immediately ensure local procurement of medicines unavailable in government hospitals, allocate adequate and dedicated funds for such purchases, expedite the statewide empanelment of private pharmacies and diagnostic centres, guarantee timely reimbursement for medicines and diagnostic tests paid for by eligible patients, and strictly enforce compliance with departmental directives by fixing accountability for violations.

The Federation has appealed to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Medical and Health Minister to take urgent corrective measures to address the issue and provide relief to millions of patients, pensioners, and senior citizens across the state.