Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings, Ch Lal Singh Friday launched e-Aushadhi-a web based supply chain management application at Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd (JKMSCL) office at Narwal here.Director General Indian System of Medicines Dr. Abdul Kabir Dar, Managing Director JKMSCL Dr. Yash Pal Sharma, Principal Government Medical College Dr. Zahid Geelani, Director Health Services Dr. Baljeet Singh Pathania, Director Family Welfare Dr. Baldev Raj Sharma, Mission Director National Health Mission Dr. Mohan Singh, General Manager JKMSCL Dr. Rajinder Khajuria besides other senior officers of JKMSCL, Health and Medical Education departments and representatives of e-Aushadhi were present at the lunch ceremony of e-Aushadhi.
Speaking after launching the application, the Minister said that it has been prepared by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Noida, Ministry of Commerce and Information Technology, GoI. He said e-Aushadhi shall help JKMSCL to improve drug warehousing and supply chain management in all Government hospitals in the State.Ch Lal Singh complimented JKMSCL and C-DAC on ensuring the launching of the application on the scheduled date. He said that this application will keep check on purchases, inventory management and distribution of various drugs & surgical items to various regional and district drug warehouses, district hospitals, primary health centres and community health centres.
Reiterating the commitment of the Government to provide free drugs in Government Hospitals, Ch Lal Singh asked Health and Medical Education Department to ensure 80% free drugs to patients in Government Hospitals. He underlined the importance of keeping all Government Hospitals fully equipped with necessary medicine and latest equipment. He said with JKMSCL fully operational, it is expected to improve the overall stock and supply position of drugs & surgical equipment to Hospitals.Meanwhile, Ch Lal Singh issued instructions to expedite the procurement of surgical disposables, instruments and dressing material etc. He also issued instructions to the Health and Medical Education Department for timely submitting the requisitions as well as funds to JKMSCL for procurement of the hospital supplies.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Managing Director JKMSCL Dr. Yash Pal Sharma informed that the rate contracts for the medicines, IV fluids etc have been finalized and the system generated purchase orders (through e-Aushadhi) for 40 manufacturers/importers/authorised dealers have been prepared and online orders have been issued with the launching of e-Aushadhi application at JKMSCL. He said e-Aushadhi software shall further be upgraded by inclusion of e-Upkaran for inventory management including procurement and maintenance of equipment and human resources financial management. He said this will ensure the effectiveness in procurement and distribution of the drug supplies besides bringing transparency and accountability at all levels.In the meeting, comparison of rates of various drugs which have been finalized and approved by JKMSCL viz a viz market rates was also shared, indicating huge price differences.Earlier, the representative of e-Aushadhi gave a power point presentation about the advantages of this web application. He said Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh States have already adopted this system.