Epilepsy patients to get free medicines

• SVIMS governing council led by Minister takes decision
• Farooq conveys council decision to patients, who are on relay fast

Tirupati: At last, giving solace to the agitating epilepsy patients, Minister for Medical Education N Md Farooq and SVIMS governing council decided to restore free medicine distribution to all patients.

It may be recalled that SVIMS used to give free medicines to epilepsy patients for over two decades which was stopped from February and distributing them only to new patients.

The old patients have been demanding for medicines to them also and went on agitation path. They sat on relay fast for the last one week and the issue was highlighted in The Hans India on November 29.

Later, Tirupati MLA M Suguna also expressed solidarity to the patients and assured them that she will talk to the Minister during his visit to Tirupati on Saturday.

The Patients’ Welfare Association representatives along with Andhra Pradesh Abhivrudhi Porata Samithi (AAPS) President Dr N Raja Reddy, TDP Christian Cell President Y Praveen and others met the Minister and submitted a representation.

The issue was discussed at the governing council meeting of SVIMS chaired by the Minister Farooq and they took the decision to distribute free medicines to all epilepsy patients.

Later, Minister along with TTD Chairman P Sudhakar Yadav visited the relay fast camp and offered lemon juice to those, who sat on fast.