GUWAHATI, April 24 - The State government has engaged 4,000 MPWs (multi purpose workers) and ASHA workers to provide medicines not available locally to the doorstep of patients.
�The medicines should not be available within 10 km radius of the residence of the patients. Calls can be made at 104. We will also provide a WhatsApp num-ber where the prescription can be sent,� Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today.
If the medicine is available in the district, the health workers will deliver it to the patient in 24 hours. �If we have to get it from the medical colleges it may take about 48 hours, and if we have to procure it from outside, it may take a week�s time,� he said.
The patients will not have to pay for those medicines available in the government store.
�Also, medicines up to Rs 200 will be given free. For those costing more than Rs 200, the payment will have to be made to the health workers who deliver the medicine,� the minister said, asking people not to misuse the facility.
Assam Police personnel have so far delivered medicines to over 4,800 patients at their doorstep during the lockdown.
