Coimbatore Government Hospital has come under scrutiny after former Industries Minister Raja said medicine covers issued to patients carry printed instructions in Hindi along with Tamil and English. His post on X sparked a fresh political controversy.
According to the report, the hospital began distributing tablets in dedicated brown paper covers with printed time-of-dose cues such as morning, afternoon and night after a Dinamalar story highlighted the need for such packaging. The cost is borne by some private firms, and the covers are printed through the Sindhamani cooperative.
Hospital sources said Hindi was included because many migrant workers from northern states visit the government hospital for treatment, and the additional language was meant to help them understand the instructions. They added that the same practice had continued for the past two years, including during the current DMK government.
After Raja’s post went viral, the hospital administration reportedly instructed pharmacists on Tuesday night not to use the old covers. Resident Medical Officer Saravanapriya said new covers carrying instructions only in Tamil and English would be used to dispense medicines from today.
