Procurement of Ayush Medicines Under CGHS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE 

LOK SABHA 

STARRED QUESTION NO.259 
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28TH DECEMBER, 2018 
PROCUREMENT OF AYUSH MEDICINES UNDER CGHS 
259. SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY: 
state: Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to 
  • (a) whether it is a fact that due to the complicated procurement process of AYUSH medicines under CGHS, the beneficiaries have to face great difficulties; 
  • (b) if so, the details thereof; 
  • (c) the allocation of funds and expenditure for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy medicines, separately, during the last two years, year-wise; and 
  • (d) the details of corrective measures taken to hasten the procurement process and ease the problems of the patients? 
Ayush+Medicines+Under+CGHS
ANSWER 
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE 
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA) 
(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. 
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.259* FOR 28TH DECEMBER, 2018 
(a) & (b): Some difficulties are being faced by the beneficiaries not because of the complex process but because of:- 
  • Non-availability of Authorized Local Chemist for AYUSH in Cities outside Delhi. 
  • Non-availability of Rate Contract for AYUSH drugs. 
(c): The details of the funds allocated and spent for the procurement of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathic Medicines under CGHS during the last two years are as under:- 
(Rupees in Crores) 
2016-17
2017-18
Allotment Expenditure Allotment Expenditure
Ayurvedic 5.44
3.07
5.44
4.59
Unani
1.50
0.78
1.50
0.78
Homeopathy
1.50
0.29
1.50
0.25
Siddha
1.00
0.35
1.00
0.45
(d): Following corrective measures have been taken to hasten the procurement process and ease the problems of the beneficiaries: 

  • i. New Ayurvedic Formulary has been prepared for 2017-19 under which 221 Generic medicines are procured from Indian Medicine Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL) directly and 150 medicines (not manufactured by IMPCL – called non-IMPCL medicines) are procured from Government/PSU pharmacies through rate contract and 84 Rogadhikara (disease group identified) Ayurvedic medicines are procured through open tender/rate contract. 
  • ii. Procurement process has been initiated for 150 non- IMPCL generic medicines. 
  • iii. Contract has been awarded through e-tender for procurement of 36 non- IMPCL generic Unani medicines. Process has been initiated for procurement of branded/disease based/non-formulary Unani Medicines through e-tender. 
  • iv. E-tender process has been initiated for procurement of Homoeopathic formulary medicines. 
  • v. E-tender process has been initiated for procurement of Siddha formulary medicines. 
  • vi. Medicines, which are not readily available in stock are procured through Authorized Local Chemists (ALCs) attached with those dispensaries. 
  • vii. In cities, where there are no ALCs, CGHS beneficiaries can buy the non-available medicines from open market and claim reimbursement.

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