Health Minister pushes for transparency, timely delivery of medicinal supplies
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, Sakeena Itoo, chaired a meeting at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday to review the performance and functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL).
The meeting was attended by Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed; Managing Director of JKMSCL; Principals of all Government Medical Colleges (GMCs); Principals of Dental Colleges; Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) from all districts; and other concerned officers, either in person or virtually.
Addressing the officers, Sakeena Itoo emphasised the need to strengthen the monitoring system of medical supplies to enhance healthcare service delivery across Jammu and Kashmir. She called for increased transparency and efficiency in the distribution of medicines in district and sub-district hospitals, as well as health centres.
The Minister directed the Principals of all GMCs to maintain proper records of medicines distributed to patients and those prescribed but not available in hospital stocks.
Sakeena further stressed the importance of maintaining quality standards in medical supplies, as well as machinery and equipment procured by the JKMSCL. Acknowledging the role of JKMSCL in upgrading healthcare infrastructure across the region, she urged the management to work towards a more responsive and efficient system to meet the growing medical needs of the local population.
Regarding the procurement of machinery and other high-end equipment for healthcare facilities in Jammu and Kashmir, Sakeena urged the JKMSCL management to reduce delays in procurement and adopt a more efficient framework for timely delivery. She directed the management to expedite pending procurement processes and ensure the timely delivery of medical supplies, machinery and equipment, particularly in rural and remote areas.
During the meeting, the status of the Drugs and Vaccine Distribution Management System (DVDMS) portal was also reviewed. Sakeena stressed the need for physical monitoring of drugs being distributed to health facilities and asked the JKMSCL management to establish teams for conducting surprise inspections of drugs and medicines at hospitals. She also directed action to be taken against officers who have not yet on boarded onto the DVDMS portal.
The Managing Director of JKMSCL provided a detailed presentation on procurement mechanisms, supply chain management, the availability of medicines and the financial position of the Corporation.
