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28 March 2024

Drug bank to provide free medicine to workers

Published
By VM Sathish

Most medical camps conducted by social organizations are only public relation exercises as many deserving patients neither get more than two to five minutes to consult doctors nor follow up treatment, a senior member of a doctors association said.

Dr NM Naser, a senior member of All Kerala Medical and Dental Graduates Association, a practicing doctors group said, they will organise a free medical camp for 500 workers of Sonapur labour camp in which 20 specialist doctors will actively participate and free medicines will be distributed from a Drug Bank created with the help of pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies.

 “Many medical camps are hurriedly organised, but patients hardly get two or three minutes with a doctor.  Many turn out to be mere publicity campaigns for the organising hospitals. Some patients who attend the medical camps need long term treatment for chronic disease like heart and kidney problems,” he said. The medical camp on October 8 will provide medical consultation, awareness programme, immunisation and counseling.

AKMG, Dubai Chapter, Youth India and Kerala Youth Cultural Club, will conduct a medical camp at the Higgs and Hill Labour Camp, Sonapur for about 500 pre-registered workers from various labour camps in Sonapur.

Dr Nirmala Reghunath, President of AKMG Dubai, said many workers cannot afford costly treatment in some of the hospitals and clinics and they stop treatment half way due to financial difficulties. “Doctors have a social commitment and our specialist doctors will spend the whole day in the labour camp. We will also give free medicine with the support of some pharmaceutical companies and continue treatment for the chronically ill patients,” she said.

Due to the high fees charged by doctors and clinics, many workers cannot afford even normal treatment. Most lack insurance coverage, she added.

The doctors group has conducted campaigns against alcoholism and smoking, two major health hazards in camps.


Medical conference at Rashid Hospital

AKMG Dubai and the Medical Education Department of Dubai Health Authority is organizing a one-day Continuing Medical Education programme on Advances in Surgery and Medicine on October 15 for healthcare professionals at the Rashid Medical Library Auditorium, Dubai.

“The Ministry of Health has stipulated that 30 hours of CME is compulsory for renewing doctors and clinics licences. The MoH has also approved AKMG CME and even doctors and paramedical staff working in the government hospitals can participate in the AKMG CME programmes,” said Dr Nirmala.