No shortage of medicines, says Negi

Jaswinder Singh Baidwan

Akhran da mureed
Staff member
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Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi today rejected a report that the Doon Hospital was facing a shortage of medicines. “Except non-availability of rabies injections, all medicines and other injections are available at the Doon Hospital,” he said while speaking on the sidelines of a press conference.
The minister, however, admitted that there was confusion as the Doon Hospital had passed into the hands of Doon Medical College. “It is the initial stages. The hospital is now part of Doon Medical College, as such there is confusion regarding certain issues and will be sorted out soon,” he said.
Negi said a committee had been constituted to look into the matter of implementation of dynamic assured career progression (DACP) for doctors in view of an agitation launched by government doctors.
The minister later while addressing the press conference said the Department of Ayush, Union Ministry of Ayush and the Confederation of Indian Industries would organize a national level health fair on ayurveda, unani, yoga, naturopathy, homoeopathy and Siddha in Dehradun between February 5 and 8. “All ancient therapies will be brought under one roof and renowned practitioners will organise camps. Around 66 companies trading in medicines will put up stalls at the fair,” he said.
Guilty officials to face action: Health Secy
Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Om Prakash, on Wednesday said officials concerned would be held responsible for delaying the procurement of medicines for Doon Hospital.
“An artificial shortage of medicines has been created at the hospital to put pressure on the department to reverse its decision of clamping down on the local purchase of branded medicines and new medicines procurement policy. I have asked the Director General, Health, to prepare a report why tenders have not been invited by the Doon Hospital and other medical centres,” said Om Prakash.
He said under the new procurement policy, medicines for the haemophilia treatment were procured through the tender process and it helped the government save around Rs 2 crore.
“Earlier the medicines were procured through branded companies. Similarly, the procurement of generic medicines through the tender process will help us save around Rs 30 crore, which could be utilised to bear the cost of free diagnostic procedures in hospitals,” said Om Prakash.
He said the Directorate of Health had in October last year issued directives to all Chief Medical Officers to invite tenders for procuring medicines well in advance. “We had said that in case they were not able to invite the tenders, they should pass on the responsibility to the Directorate of Health. However, these directives were ignored. I have asked the Director General, Health, to prepare a report so that action can be initiated and responsibility fixed,” said Om Prakash.
There have been reports of a shortage of medicines at the Doon Hospital. Earlier, the hospital authorities had said they were unable to procure medicines as the tenders invited by them did not get a good response. There was a condition that outside companies with a turnover of Rs 70 crore could bid while Uttarakhand companies with a turnover of Rs 20 crore could bid.
The Principal Secretary said generic medicines could have been procured through the public sector undertaking.
 
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