To deal with the issue of substandard drugs, the State Health Department is now getting samples of drugs tested after procurement from successful bidders at the State-level before they are supplied to district warehouses, said Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
Responding to BJP member Talwar Sabanna, Mr. Rao said 10 additional NABL laboratories have been empanelled for drug testing in the State. He said a proposal has been sent to the Finance Department to include a tender condition for officials to personally visit the drug manufacturing companies annually or once in every two years to check the quality of the products.
“The Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. (KSMSCL) is being strengthened to ensure the distribution of quality medicines to public health institutions. We are also coming out with a drug recall policy to ensure that substandard drugs are recalled from the market both in the government and private sector,” he said.
“With most of the substandard drugs are being supplied by manufacturers from outside the State, we have also written to the Centre seeking action against such companies,” Mr. Rao said.
More medicines under indent
To avoid doctors writing out prescriptions for patients to buy medicine from outside pharmacies, the number of essential drugs currently being indented for procurement through Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (KAPL) has been increased from 732 to 1,084.
On shortage of essential drugs in some hospitals, the Minister said hospital authorities have been authorised to procure medicines locally.
Published – March 10, 2025 09:54 pm IST
