Policy pitfall: Doon Medical College borrows medicines from DG office

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 12

The Government Doon Medical College Hospital, which is facing a shortage of essential drugs, has been forced to seek on loan medicines such as fluids and factor eight medicines from the office of the Director General, Health and Family Welfare.

A new drug procurement policy has came into effect in the state for various government health facilities and medical colleges. However, the Government Doon Medical College Hospital has not been able to attract companies, which could fulfil the norms, leading to an erratic supply of medicines.

The turnover limits prescribed for companies are too high, which local firms have not been able to fulfil.

Further the Director General Office procures around 70 per cent of the medicines. Also, the medical colleges or the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the districts procure the remaining 30 per cent medicines.

“The arrangement has left us dependent on the Director General’s office, and hence we are unable to procure medicines according to our needs. Fluids, which are used in huge quantities at the emergency ward, and medicines under factor eight for thalassemia patients have been procured from the Director General’s office,” says Dr KK Tamta, Medical Superintendent, Doon Medical College Hospital.

The Director General’s office has released 500 and 250 units of factor eight medicines on the condition that once the Doon Medical College Hospital gets its own stock, these would be returned.

“We are still working at our end to streamline the supply of medicines. The three medical colleges need to evolve a system where we are able to replenish our supplies as quickly as possible,” says Dr Tamta.

Significantly, the Doon Medical College and Hospital has been awaiting final letter of approval from the MCI, which is likely by June end. This will minimise the problem of shortage of medicines the officials concerned are facing currently.

No reimbursement of private medical bills

The Doon Medical College Hospital has completely stopped reimbursement of private medical bills to check misuse of the policy. Earlier, as the Doon Hospital was a district centre, several patients referred by doctors in the  Doon Hospital were able to get themselves examined privately. The doctors referred patients to the higher medical centre, enabling them to get himself examined privately  and get the bills reimbursement from the government. This was the practice when the Doon Hospital was a district hospital. However, things have changed now with the upgrade of the Doon District Hospital to the Doon Medical College Hospital.