SHILLONG: The State Government’s tender for procuring and distributing more than 1,500 types of drugs have been pending due to the model code of conduct which is in force in the entire country due to the Lok Sabha polls.
An official said the Directorate of Health Services (Medical Institutions) has floated the tender after a long gap of almost 8-9 years and the tender will be valid for three years while the purchases of drugs will be made quarterly or in 6 months’ time.
The official said during the gap, drugs may have been bought in the same tender rates which were called last time, adding that as the tenders are valid for certain period, drugs are ordered from time to time, sometimes quarterly or every six months.
The drugs which the government intends to purchase will be distributed in Civil Hospitals, CHCs and PHCs and the government is optimistic that the new purchases will definitely address the concerns of shortage of medicines.
“Earlier medicines were distributed on the basis of demands but now it will be in structured way,” official said, adding that the tender will be finalised once the model code of conduct comes to an end.
Stating that the allocation for purchasing medicines has been enhanced, the official added that the purchase of medicines will streamline the shortage of medicines in the government hospitals in the state.
The tendering for purchasing medicine assumes significance since it is a fact that many poor patients who go to government hospitals for treatment, are forced to buy medicines from private shops since government owned hospitals, on many occasions, have shortage of medicines.