Ludhiana Ayurvedic Dispensaries Face Unending Medicine Shortage

For the second year running, Ludhiana's government ayurvedic dispensaries are experiencing a critical medicine shortage, leaving thousands of patients without access to free healthcare. The 64 institutions across the district, including the Government Ayurvedic Hospital, continue to issue prescriptions instead of dispensing necessary medications. This ongoing crisis, which began in 2025, is compounded by significant procurement delays and a severe lack of essential staff. Officials indicate that while a new tender was issued in March 2026 and supply orders followed on July 2, the much-needed medicines are still two months away. NGOs have been providing temporary relief to meet immediate patient needs. Concurrently, the department faces a 30% vacancy for doctors and 45% for pharmacists, with recruitment proposals awaiting government approval. Patients report being forced to buy medicines from private pharmacies, escalating costs and disrupting continuous treatment. Health experts highlight that this prolonged shortage undermines the goal of providing affordable traditional healthcare, especially for vulnerable patient groups.