Aurangabad: Government hospitals in Bihar have begun rolling out a QR code system at medicine counters in a bid to bring transparency to drug distribution and end long-standing complaints from patients that essential medicines are often marked as “out of stock” despite being available.
The initiative, launched at Aurangabad District Hospital, allows patients to scan a QR code to check real-time availability of medicines. If staff refuse to dispense drugs that are in stock, patients can immediately file a complaint with the hospital administration, with provisions for swift action.
Officials say the move will provide significant relief to poorer patients, who are frequently forced to purchase costly medicines from private shops when government supplies are denied. For years, allegations have circulated that some hospital employees deliberately concealed stocks, undermining public trust in state health services.
By digitising records and offering open access to stock information, the state government hopes to prevent such irregularities and restore confidence. For patients waiting in long queues, the QR code system is expected to reduce uncertainty about whether they will receive the medicines prescribed to them.
