(a) whether the Government proposes to set up a separate body for procurement
of medicines and other equipments for the Government health centres;
(b) if so, the stipulated period within which the said body is likely to be set up;
(c) the agencies through which the procurement of medicines is done
presently;
(d) whether there are various lacunae in the present procurement system; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)
(a) The Government proposes to set up a Central Procurement Agency (CPA) for the
purpose of procuring, storing and distributing health sector goods.
(b) No timeframe has been fixed.
(c) Presently, externally funded Procurement is being done through RITES Ltd,
a PSU under Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India. Domestic Funded Procurements are
done by the Ministry.
(d) & (e) There are various difficulties being faced by the Ministry in
procurement of drugs, medicines and equipments as given below:
(i) Lack of standardization of procurement Manuals, Bid Documents and Quality
Assurance.
(ii) The present system is finding it difficult to monitor the availability
and movement of drugs, vaccines and equipments etc.,