NewKerala.com

Himachal CM Orders New Essential Drugs List for Quality Medicines in Govt Hospitals

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed officials to prepare a new 'Essential Drugs' List to ensure the availability of quality medicines in government health institutions. He emphasized that direct procurement from manufacturers is a strategic move to eliminate middlemen and ensure a transparent supply chain. The CM also ordered the strengthening of drug sampling and quality testing mechanisms, including establishing dedicated cells in medical colleges. Strict enforcement of quality rules for state-based pharmaceutical companies was reiterated, with no compromise on patient health.

Key Points: Himachal CM Directs Creation of New Essential Drugs List

  • New Essential Drugs List for govt hospitals
  • Direct procurement from manufacturers to cut delays
  • Strengthened drug sampling & quality testing
  • Dedicated quality cells in medical colleges
2 min read

Himachal CM directs preparation of new essential drugs list to ensure quality medicines

Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu orders a new Essential Drugs List and direct procurement from manufacturers to ensure quality medicines in government health institutions.

"By bypassing intermediaries, the state aims to secure a consistent inventory of life-saving drugs - CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu"

Shimla, February 4

Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while presiding over a review meeting of the Health Department, directed the officers to prepare a new 'Essential Drugs' List to ensure the availability of quality medicines to patients in government health institutions.

"He said that the new list would be reviewed by a High Power Committee," a release said.

The Chief Minister emphasised that moving toward direct procurement from manufacturers is not merely a cost-cutting measure, but a strategic move to eliminate middleman-related delays and ensure a more transparent supply chain. "By bypassing intermediaries", he said that the state aims to secure a "consistent inventory of life-saving drugs for which necessary provisions would be made".

The Chief Minister directed that the mechanism for sampling and quality testing of medicines supplied to government health institutions should be strengthened. "For this purpose", he said that a dedicated cell would be established in each medical college in the state and the state government would provide adequate staff, training and required equipment. "In the first phase, such cells would be set up at IGMC Shimla and Dr. RPGMC Tanda."

CM Sukhu also directed that strict quality checks of medicines manufactured by pharmaceutical companies in Himachal Pradesh be ensured. He instructed the officers to strictly enforce the provisions of Schedule-M of India's Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, in the State. He reiterated that no compromise would be made with patients' health.

Secretary Health M Sudha Devi, Special Secretary Ashwani Kumar, Director AYUSH Nipun Jindal, Director Medical Education Dr Rakesh Sharma, Director Health Services Dr Gopal Berry and other senior officers were present in the meeting held on a day earlier.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally! My mother had a bad experience with substandard medicine from a govt. dispensary last year. Setting up dedicated testing cells in medical colleges is a brilliant idea. Transparency in the supply chain is key. Kudos to CM Sukhu for taking patient health seriously.
R
Rohit P
Good move on paper. But the challenge is always in execution. We've seen many such "high power committees" before. Will they actually enforce Schedule-M rules strictly on the pharma companies in Himachal? That's the real test.
S
Sarah B
As someone who works in public health, eliminating middlemen is crucial for efficiency. Hope other states take note. The focus on life-saving drugs is particularly important. Quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
V
Vikram M
Himachal is a hub for pharma manufacturing. Ensuring strict quality checks there will have a ripple effect nationwide. "No compromise with patients' health" should be the motto for every state government. 🏥
N
Nisha Z
I appreciate the intent, but will the "adequate staff and training" actually materialize? Government posts often remain vacant. The plan is solid, but they need to ensure the human resource is in place to make it work. Fingers crossed.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50