New delhi: Maintenance of two months’ inventory of medicines, which are part of the essential drug list, opening of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in hospitals to procure medicines in exigencies, adequate and standard pharmacy and consumable storage space at all hospitals, and strengthening the central procurement agency are some of the measures suggested by the six-member committee appointed by Delhi High Court in Feb to address the issues plaguing the infrastructure of Delhi govt hospitals.
The committee, headed by Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences chancellor Dr SK Sarin, has suggested a host of measures — immediate, short, intermediate and long-term — that can be implemented in state-run and MCD hospitals and dispensaries.
Asking the chief secretary and principal secretary (health) to implement the measures within a stipulated period as suggested by the committee, the court has also clarified that the model code of conduct, imposed due to the Lok Sabha polls, won’t be a hindrance.
As immediate measures, which can be implemented within 30 days, the committee of doctors has also suggested that hospitals should have ready-made rate contracts to meet up to 50 per cent of the annual demand to ensure that there is a secure supply line for six months while the tendering process is on.
The committee has also recommended delegation of financial powers to medical directors or superintendents to maintain at least 25 per cent of the required supply and inventory.
While speaking in Delhi Assembly earlier this month, health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had referred to reports from the ground and feedback from legislators to emphasise that there was a severe shortage of medicines and consumables in Delhi govt hospitals and dispensaries and had alleged that the tender floated by the central procurement agency to get medicines had not been finalised as a “premeditated conspiracy”.
The Delhi chief secretary and senior officials of health and family welfare department and directorate of health services had, however, informed the minister the same morning that all essential medicines or their substitutes were available and medical directors and superintendents of hospitals were told to procure medicines at their end in case of shortage.
The committee has suggested that “delegation of financial powers of Rs 5 crore per annum to MS and directors to purchase medicines and consumables separate from equipment procurement be done to meet the emergency demands”. It also suggested that Jan Aushadhi Kendras be opened in each hospital so that medicines may be procured from them in exigencies and adequate supply of drugs and consumables should be ensured at primary and secondary level of health facilities as well.
As short-term and intermediate measures, which can be implemented within a year, the committee recommended the construction of “adequate and standard pharmacy and consumable storage space and facility” on a priority basis in all hospitals by bringing in the public welfare department of Delhi govt.
As long-term measures, to be implemented in 1-2 years, the committee suggested that the central procurement agency be strengthened and made accountable for providing uninterrupted and quality medicines and consumables to all hospitals, dispensaries and other health establishments.
“The entire system should be brought under e-governance, through the Hospital Management Information System of NIC,” it added.
