Punjab Government has set up scientifically designed three regional warehouses at Amritsar, Bathinda and Kharar. These warehouses have been established with the cost of Rs 376.39 lac.Stating this here today Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani said that these regional warehouses have been especially designed to keep stocked medicines protected. Mr.Jayani said that Punjab Government was presently providing more than 300 medicines free in the government hospitals and this number would be increased in the near future. He said that these ware houses have been setup for storage and timely distribution of medicines and putting in place an online inventory management system for ensuring effective online management and monitoring of drug. He also said that Warehouse at Verka, Amritsar has been constructed with the cost of Rs 141.21 lac, Ware house at Bathinda with the cost of Rs 116.53 lac and Ware house at Kharar constructed with the cost of Rs 118.65 lac.
Adding further he said that during the last year medicines worth Rs. 70 crore were supplied to the government hospitals for free distribution. Recently the PGIMER, Chandigarh and Govt Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector-16, Chandigarh were facing acute shortage of Anti Snake venom ( A life saving drug) and Anti Snake Venom were provided by the PHSC to the PGIMER, Chandigarh and GMSH, Chandigarh from Regional Drug Warehouse, SAS Nagar.The Minister said that besides systematic distribution of medicines transparency in the supply & purchase of drugs would also be ensured. He said that these warehouses would be equipped with all ultra modern facilities for safe storage of drugs. With the establishment of these regional warehouses and putting an online inventory management system in place would streamline the procurement and distribution of drugs and consumables.
He added that online link between State Headquarter, Regional warehouses and hospitals would be established. This would enable assessment of requirements of drugs as per the past consumption pattern and also identify drugs by generating secret codes and also monitor value of drugs drawn from the stores by the hospitals .Each and every batch of drugs would be easily traceable online tracking of drug inventory at various health institutions in the state and supplier wise track record to provide a profile of suppliers could also be done, he added.