PGI rolls out new online indenting system to improve transparency
In a significant move to curb fraudulent practices and enhance transparency, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has launched a new online indenting system.
The initiative comes in the backdrop of recent fraudulent activities involving fake medical indents, highlighting loopholes in the existing manual system.
The decision to implement an online system was prompted by an incident back in 2023 when one of the Ayushman Cell employees flagged suspicious behavior of another outsourced worker allegedly involved in stealing an indent book. While the official caught was immediately fired resulting in an internal inquiry, PGI felt the need of an upgrade in Hospital Information System (HIS).
Officials from the hospital administration said while the authorities had thought of the solution a while ago, the upgradation process required time. “We were waiting for HIS-2 to be launched because the preexisting (HIS-1) system had no patient specific indenting. In HIS-1, wards and ICU can indent but not the patients,” explained the senior official.
PGI’s surveillance system and officials were vigilant after the 2023 incident but the manual indenting system was still a cause of concern for the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
On February 18, a Amrit Pharmacy worker was caught trying to buy a neurosurgery drill bit twice in one day.
Within a month of the incident, PGI authorities hurried the process of online indenting system making amendments in HIS-1 system and started trials. A new online system was developed on war footing and its implementation started on March 18 from Block C of the Nehru Hospital.
The clinical areas using the online indent was expanded and as of tomorrow, April 4, all 36 clinical wards and ICUs of Nehru Hospital will be using online indent thus completely replacing manual indent book. “There were three checks in manual indent system as well, three stamps, Indenting Officer(Doctor or Nurse), Ayushman Cell and finally the pharmacy. So, when the caught person was grilled by the police he presented three counterfeit stamps he possessed which he was using to bypass the system,” an official explained.
The newly implemented online indenting system will ensure that all records are documented electronically, thereby eliminating opportunities for unauthorised manipulation.
The online indenting system will be rolled out in two parts. While currently only patient indenting is being implemented, soon PGI plans to incorporate online payment system into it as well. An online payment system will ensure that financial transactions remain transparent and free from fraudulent handling
According to the officials, the loophole that scammers were utilising in manual indenting has been completely removed. Through online indenting, instead of patients/attendants going to Amrit for required drugs or implants, the required material is delivered to them.
