Med biz in govt hosp zones takes a hit, sales down 50%
Times of India | 23 August 2024
12 Kolkata: Medical business in the hospital zones has become a collateral damage to the doctors’ protest as OPDs and non-emergency services at state-run facilities have come to a near standstill. Sales of medicines and tests in labs around govt hospitals have reported 40%-50% dip in business over past fortnight, ever since doctors launched their movement against the rape-and-murder of RG Kar PGT on Aug 9.
Most medical stores and diagnostic centres around govt hospitals depend on the thousands of patients who visit the emergency departments and OPDs of these hospitals every day. Some of the tests, which are not carried out at these hospitals, are referred to the diagnostic labs in the vicinity. Close to 30 medical stores operate on Central Avenue and College Street that cater to Medical College and Hospital patients. On any given day, one has to jostle his/her way and push the prescription through a crowd of customers to get the attention of the person at the counter. “This lull is unprecedented. There have been agitations but none lasted this long and could have such an impact on medicine sales. There is hardly any doctor at the OPD to prescribe medicines,” said Monojit Biswas of New Medical Hall on College Street.
Medical stores opposite RG Kar Medical College, the epicentre of the protests, are the worst affected. Salespersons at most shops have been sitting idle throughout the day. “We are completely dependent on RG Kar for business. From the time we would open our shop till midnight, there would be a queue of buyers. But now, our billing has dropped by almost 60%. Only those are visiting whose patients are undergoing treatment for critical diseases here,” said Sankar Pal of Blueprint opposite R G Kar.
Even patient footfall has dropped drastically, as most are aware of scarcity of doctors at OPDs and non-availability of non-emergency services at state facilities. “Every day thousands of patients from the city and the districts visit SSKM. The number has come down to a trickle. Earlier, people would struggle to get a foothold inside the medical store, today there is hardly any customer,” said Pallab Roy of Roy and Son Medical Store Private Limited opposite SSKM.
Sajal Ganguly, general secretary of West Bengal Chemists’ and Druggists’ Association, conceded there was a dip in sales of medicines in stores around govt hospitals. “We hope the situation will normalise soon,” he said.
A well-known diagnostic chain would usually receive at least 150 samples for testing from patients at NRS Medical College. “There are several high-end tests that are not conducted at the hospital and those patients are sent to us. But for the past few days, we are receiving only 25 to 30 samples a day,” said the manager of the diagnostic lab.
(inputs by Suparna Goswami & Biplab Bhattacharjee)