Bengaluru: After five midwives died in Bellary a few months ago due to use of substandard IV fluids, the state government has taken steps to supply quality life-saving drugs to hospitals.
The Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) has been allowed to invite tenders worth Rs 800 crore with strict guidelines by conducting multiple checks and tests on each batch of drugs.
The corporation is the nodal agency for procurement of drugs and equipment for government-run healthcare institutions. More than 2,700 healthcare institutions across the state, including hospitals, primary health centres and community health centres, use over 880 life-saving drugs. The corporation has invited 30 tenders for 100 drugs worth Rs 485 crore.
The health department has introduced several changes in the tender process to ensure quality medicines, officials said. Earlier, medicines were purchased for the entire year at once, but now, they have been ordered in phases.
This ensures that medicines are used before their expiry date and frees up space in local drug warehouses. This reduces the risk of medicines becoming “non-standard quality (NSQ)” due to weather conditions, an official said.
Suppliers have to deliver generic medicines within 30 days of production, while injectables and IV fluids have to be delivered within 40 days. Imported medicines should have at least 60 per cent shelf-life at the time of delivery, the official said. A team of experts will visit the pharmaceutical units and conduct inspections, the official said.
Testing is done at all stages and if there is any problem, the concerned officials will be held responsible. The drug software has a module that allows health institutions to report complaints of adverse reactions arising from the use of medicines.
Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the health department has taken several steps and has adopted the best drug procurement practices of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.