Executive Summary:
This document addresses delays in medicine distribution at CGHS Wellness Centres. It outlines steps taken by the Government of India to mitigate these issues, including the introduction of a new application for monitoring medicine demand and supply, and time-bound procedures for medicine procurement and distribution. The response was provided on July 25th, 2025, in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 935.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Problem Addressed:** Inordinate delays in the procurement and supply of medicines by CGHS Wellness Centres, causing problems for beneficiaries.
* **Mitigation Steps:**
* Introduction of a new application developed by CDAC to monitor and analyze demand trends, procurement, and supply of medicines.
* Implementation of time-bound procedures for procurement and distribution.
* **Medicine Procurement and Distribution Procedures:**
* **Routine Medicines:** Procured from Medical Store Organisations (MSO)/Government Medical Store Depots (GMSD) and supplied through CGHS Medical Store Depots (MSDs). Jan Aushadhi medicines are procured separately through Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana Kendra (PMJAYK) based on monthly demand.
* **Delhi NCR Schedule:** MSO drug supplies from MSD to Wellness Centres follow a schedule shared with all Additional Director (AD) zones and respective centres, with supplies every 35 days.
* **Restricted Medicines:** Procured on a case-to-case basis upon specialist prescription.
* Delhi beneficiaries receive supplies directly from MSD Delhi.
* NCR beneficiaries receive supplies through designated nodal Wellness Centres.
* Supply is typically on the next working day from MSD for Delhi-based beneficiaries and within 3 to 4 working days for NCR residents.
* Delays may occur due to supply chain or logistical issues.
* Medicines available at Wellness Center are distributed to beneficiaries on the same day.
* Medicines not available at Wellness Center are indented through Authorized Local Chemists who supplies the medicines within 48 hours, failing which penalty is imposed.
Impact Analysis:
* **CGHS Beneficiaries:**
* Impact: Improved and more timely availability of medicines, especially for senior citizens.
* Action Required: Monitor the effectiveness of the new system and report any continued delays.
* **CGHS Wellness Centres:**
* Impact: Must adopt and utilize the new application for medicine management.
* Action Required: Implement the time-bound procedures for procurement and distribution, including monthly demand compilation for Jan Aushadhi medicines, adherence to the Delhi NCR supply schedule, and timely processing of restricted medicine requests.
* **Medical Store Organisations (MSO)/Government Medical Store Depots (GMSD)/CGHS Medical Store Depots (MSDs):**
* Impact: Expected to adhere to the supply schedules and ensure timely delivery of medicines to Wellness Centres.
* Action Required: Maintain efficient supply chains and logistics to avoid delays in medicine delivery.
* **Additional Directors (AD) zones:**
* Impact: Oversight of medicine supply schedules in Delhi NCR.
* Action Required: Monitor and ensure adherence to the supply schedule for MSO drugs from MSD to Wellness Centres.
* **Authorized Local Chemists:**
* Impact: Expected to supply medicines within 48 hours for those not available at Wellness Centers.
* Action Required: Ensure timely supply of medicines to beneficiaries.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy in India.
CGHS Wellness Centres: Healthcare facilities under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) that provide medical services and medicines to beneficiaries.
CGHS beneficiaries: Individuals entitled to receive benefits under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).
CDAC: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, an Indian government organization that developed the new application to monitor and analyze medicine demand, procurement, and supply at CGHS Wellness Centres.
Medical Store Organisations MSOGovernment Medical Store Depots GMSD: Organizations that supply routine medicines to CGHS Wellness Centres.
CGHS Medical Store Depots MSDs: Facilities through which Medical Store Organisations MSOGovernment Medical Store Depots GMSD medicines are supplied.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana Kendra PMJAYK: A government scheme promoting generic medicines; Jan Aushadhi medicines are procured separately under this scheme.
Delhi NCR: The National Capital Region, which includes Delhi and its surrounding areas, has a specific schedule for medicine supplies.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 935
TOBE ANSWERED ON25THJULY,2025
DELAYIN DISTRIBUTION OFMEDICINES IN CGHS WELLNESS CENTRES
935.SHRIJAI PRAKASH:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has received any representations from the CGHS beneficiaries
with regard to inordinate delay by the CGHS wellness centres in procuring medicines causing
problemstothe CGHS beneficiaries especiallysenior citizens;
(b) if so, the detailsof the steps being takenbythe Government tomitigatetheirproblems;
(c) whether the Government has prescribed any time-limit for procurement of medicines for
distribution through CGHS wellness Centrestothe patients; and
(d) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a)to (d) The Government had received representations from CGHS beneficiaries
regarding inordinate delays in the procurement and supply of medicines by CGHS Wellness
Centers, which has caused problems to the CGHS beneficiaries. To mitigate these problems, the
Government has taken various steps which includes introduction of new application developed
by C-DAC, that comprises functionalities to monitor and analyse the demand trends,
procurement, and supply of medicines at CGHS Wellness Centres. This digital system is
expected to enhance the timely and accurate availability and distribution of medicines, thereby
improvingservice delivery tothe beneficiaries.
The Government has prescribed time-bound procedures for the procurement and distribution of
medicinesthrough CGHS WellnessCentres. The detailsare asfollows:
(i) Routine Medicines: CGHS Wellness Centres procure routines medicines from Medical
Store Organisations (MSO)/Government Medical Store Depots (GMSD), which are
supplied through CGHS Medical Store Depots (MSDs). Additionally, Jan Aushadhi
Medicines are procured separately under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana
Kendra (PMJAYK). The demand for Jan Aushadhi medicines is compiled on a monthly
basis at the Wellness Centre level and forwarded to the respective Additional Director
(AD) zone for procurement thoughPMJAYK.(ii) Delhi-NCR Schedule: For the Delhi-NCR region, the schedule of supplies of MSO drugs
from the MSD to the Wellness Centres is shared with all Additional Director (AD) zones
and respective centres. Each CGHS Wellness Centre receives a supply of medicines once
every 35daysasperthisschedule.
(iii) Restricted Medicines: These are procuredon a case-to-case basis uponthe prescription of
the treating specialist. For beneficiaries in Delhi, such medicines are supplied directly
from MSD Delhi. For NCR beneficiaries, they are supplied through designated nodal
Wellness Centres.
(iv) These restricted medicines are procured directly from the manufacturer and are typically
supplied on the next working day from MSD for Delhi-based beneficiaries, and within 3
to 4 working days for NCR residents via the nodal Wellness Centres. Occasionally,
delays in the supply of restricted medicines may occur due to supply chain or logistical
issues, astheyare procureddirectlyfrom manufacturersona case-to-case basis.
Further, available medicines at Wellness Centre are distributed to beneficiaries on the
same day and in case, a medicine prescribed by a specialist is not available in Wellness Center,
the same is indented through Authorized Local Chemists who supplies the medicines within 48
hours, failing which penalty is imposed, in terms of Memorandum of Agreement signed with
LocalChemist.
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