Khotang, May 2 : Diprung Chuichumma rural municipality in Khotang, a eastern hilly district in the State 1, has provided medicines for patients of chronic diseases at their doorsteps when the nationwide lockdown against COVID-19 goes on. A total of 308 people prescribed to undergo a regular medication course have received the required medicines free of cost.    
They include the patients of high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, heart diseases, gastritis, ulcer, urinary related problems among others, said rural municipality chief Bhupendra Rai.    
''Presently, we are concentrated in mitigating the risk of COVID-19 spread. But side by side, we should not forget patients struggling with other health issues and in need of regular medication,'' he said. Patients unable to visit hospitals and pharmacies to obtain medicines have been given medicines sufficient for the 15 days. The local government collected their details with the help of local health institutions and women health volunteers and in the first phase it had purchased medicines worth Rs 150 thousand.    
Some patients have managed to get medicines with the help of relatives and health workers on personal expenditures.    
 It is said the district having 10 local levels is likely to face a shortage of general medicines being distributed by the government free of cost. The possible shortage is due to the halt in supplies because of lockdown. There is only one district hospital in the district. As said by District Health Office Khotang chief Punya Prasad Sigdel, 70 kinds of medicines listed in the government free distribution list are being supplied to the District Hospital, primary health centers and local levels through the Office.