Question : QUALITY OF MEDICINES

(a) whether almost 80 per cent of the drugs for Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) dispensaries are purchased from local market;

(b) if so, the details and the genuineness of quality thereof;

(c) whether the Government procures medicines from the lowest (L-I) bidder through the open tender process and thus compromise on the quality of medicines;

(d) if so, whether there is any proposal to bring a change in procurement process so that the best quality of medicines are provided to the people;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the quantum of medicines procured by CGHS dispensaries and the other hospitals of the Union Government alongwith the sources from which these were procured during the last three years and the details of the companies blacklisted due to supply of spurious medicines during the last three years?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) & (b) Information is being collected and would be laid on the Table of the House.

(c) to (e) In order to ensure and maintain quality of medicines, in recent years there has been increased emphasis on procurement of medicines directly from manufacturers/distributors which follows a well laid down quality control procedure. The authorized local chemists are appointed through a 2-bid tender process consisting of a Technical Bid and a Commercial Bid so that they also supply quality medicines.

(f) Information is being collected and would be laid on Table of the House.