Computerised drug distribution system from 2015: Karnataka Government

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Drug Logistics and Warehousing Department in a report filed before the Karnataka High Court has stated that a comprehensive computerised drug distribution system is being developed for public health institutions and will be implemented from 2015 to plug loopholes in the system.

The report was filed after the High Court took up a suo motu petition following newspaper reports that hospitals were storing drugs in toilets and ambulance sheds! The court had issued notices to the state government and other departments concerned. The government submitted 11 documents, including a letter dated September 18, 2014 from the office of the Drugs Controller and the report dated September 18, 2014 to the high court on the corrective steps taken.

The government submitted that soon after the newspaper reports were published, a circular was issued to all enforcement officers of the Drugs Control Department to inspect and verify storage of drugs at government general hospitals, institutions and government drug stores in their respective jurisdiction and submit reports.

“Accordingly, inspections have been carried out and, as a precautionary measure, the department has also undertaken quality check of drugs by drawing legal samples and the reports based on such samples have indicated that the drugs were of standard quality,” the government said. The Comptroller and Auditor General had raised some audit objections on excessive procurement, unscientific distribution and storage of drugs in toilets, corridors and ambulances during 2007-2012.

Realising that there were some lacunae in the procurement process, the Karnataka Drug Logistics and Warehousing Department had taken corrective measures during 2009-2010, drastically bringing down excess procurement of drugs, it stated.

“Various other measures were also taken to prevent waste. In fact, a comprehensive computerised distribution system is being developed for deployment in Public Health Institutions from 2015 to plug loopholes in the system,” it stated. The high court disposed of the petition after observing that the state government and concerned departments had sincerely attempted to take corrective steps in the distribution of drugs.