LUCKNOW, Sept. 1 -- For patients coming to King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, seeking affordable treatment, the hospital's subsidised pharmacy network is not always meeting their needs. Despite 28 hospital revolving fund (HRF) stores, patients and their relatives allege they are often asked to buy prescribed medicines and surgical items from private pharmacies outside the campus.

The complaints are particularly significant for patients travelling to KGMU from different parts of Uttar Pradesh and other states, many of whom depend on the university's subsidised pharmacy network to keep treatment costs manageable.

Rubeena, a Bahraich resident diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, was admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology wing...