Question : Procurement-Purchase of Medicine

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has formulated/proposes to formulate any policy with regard to procurement/ purchase of ayurvedic, siddha, unani and homeopathic medicines under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS);

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated, released and utilised for the purpose during each of the last three years and the current year, medicine stream-wise and State/UT-wise; and

(c) the steps taken/being taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure transparency and timely procurement/purchase of quality and standard medicines under CGHS?

(a) & (b): The procurement of Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha medicines under CGHS is done from Government institutions like Indian Medicine Pharmaceuticals Corporation Limited (IMPCL), Tamil Nadu Medical Plant Farms and Herbal Medicine Corporation Limited (TEMPCOL) and Co-operative Societies like Indian Medicine Practitioners Co-operative Society (IMPCOPS), Adiyar, Chennai. These medicines are procured as per the rates fixed by the Government /actual.

Homoeopathy medicines are procured from private manufacturers as per rate contract approved through open tender. The orders for supply are placed by the Store in-charge working under Addl. Director (HQ) in Delhi & NCR and by Addl. Director of the concerned city in other cities.

The generic medicines which are not manufactured / supplied by the above Government suppliers and the branded medicines, are procured from private manufacturers at rate contract finalized through open tender process. The rates are finalized by the duly constituted tender committee.
Contd........

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There are no Authorized Local Chemists under Sidha and Homeopathy. Medicines not available at the Wellness Centres are procured locally by CMO i/c of the Sidha / CMO i/c of Homoeopathy Medical Store Depot in Delhi and by Addl. Directors in other cities

Since funds are not allocated separately for Ayurveda, Unani, Sidha and Homeopathy in all cities except Delhi, information in this regard is available only in respect of Delhi &NCR. The funds allocated and expenditure incurred for each system of medicine for Delhi and NCR is at Annexure-I and the expenditure incurred for each system of medicine for cities outside Delhi at Annexure-II.
(c): Following steps have been taken to ensure regular supply / availability of medicines :-

(i) Medicines manufactured by the Indian Medicine Pharmaceuticals Corporation Limited (A Government of India enterprise) are procured directly with the rates fixed by the Cost & Accounts Division of Ministry of Finance.
(ii) The medicines which are not manufactured by IMPCL are procured through open tender.
(iii) Ayurvedic and Unani Medicines, which are not available at the Wellness Centre in Delhi & NCR or medicines which are outside the formulary, are procured through Authorized Local Chemists.
(iv) In other cities, no Authorized Local Chemists are appointed and in case the medicines are not available at the Wellness Centre, Additional Director (AD) of the concerned city procures them locally.
(v) Beneficiaries are also permitted to purchase the non-available medicines from open market and claim reimbursement.
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