The machines will dispense medicine for tuberculosis & chornic ailments such as diabetes & hypertension.

A self-service kiosk that dispenses medicine like an ATM machine will be placed in 32 places, including 23 government medical college hospitals & urban primary health centres in cities such as Chennai, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Wednesday.

The machines will dispense medicine for tuberculosis & chornic ailments such as diabetes & hypertension. “Patients don’t have to stand in long queues outside pharmacies. A QR code in the prescription will be used to dish out the right drug,” said a senior health department official. Initially, at least 32 such kiosks, to be set up at a cost of Rs 80 lakh, will dispense 32 drugs, the CM said.

The kiosks will allow medicines to be stored & dispensed near the point of care while controlling & tracking drug distribution. “We want patients to make complete use of free medicines offered by the government without hassle,” said a senior official. Medicines in the state are purchase by the Tamil Nadu Medical Service Corporation & are given for free to patients treated in state-run hospitals.

On Tuesday, health minister C Vijaya Baskar said Patient Support Groups, similar to Alcoholic Anonymous, will be established in 47 blocks for people with hypertension & diabetes with an aim to improve treatment. A similar programme will be held for pregnant women with diabetes. “The state has sought help from the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) to undertake a study & offer technical support for prevention & control of cancer, diabetes, heart disease & stroke,” he said.

As a part of an image building exercise of hospitals, the state is planning to rope in private companies under a new scheme, “My Hospital My Pride.” Corporates will help hospital management improve patient-experience in government hospitals, Palaniswami said as a part of the eleven announcements he made under Rule 110 in the assembly on Wednesday.

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