Executive Summary:
This document provides information regarding the purchase of medicines for government hospitals in India. It outlines the norms followed by central government hospitals, the cost of medicines procured from national and international companies, and details regarding the import of ready-to-use medicines. The information covers the last three years (2022-2025).
Key Points / Main Content:
Procurement Norms:
* Central Government Hospitals (Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lady Hardinge Hospital, and Rural Health Training Centre) follow the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017, the Manual for Procurement of Goods, and other guidelines issued by the Government of India, as amended.
Medicine Costs:
* Total cost of medicines procured by the mentioned hospitals from national and international companies over the last three years:
* Safdarjung Hospital: ₹225.52 Cr (₹194.92 Cr from National, ₹30.6 Cr from International companies)
* Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital: ₹100.89 Cr (₹100.89 Cr from National, ₹Nil from International companies)
* Lady Hardinge Hospital: ₹38.56 Cr (₹34.12 Cr from National, ₹4.43 Cr from International companies)
* Rural Health Training Centre: ₹8.85 Cr (₹8.85 Cr from National, ₹Nil from International companies)
* Payments are made after the supply of medicines and necessary verification, as per government rules.
Import of Ready-to-Use Medicines:
* Import licenses have been issued for ready-to-use medicines across various categories, including antimicrobials, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine, hormonal drugs, immunomodulators, ophthalmic preparations, nutritional supplements, chemotherapeutic, and radiodiagnostic agents.
* Number of import licenses issued:
* 2022-23: 141
* 2023-24: 226
* 2024-25: 113
Procurement Process:
* All procuring entities, including Central Government Hospitals, must strictly comply with government rules, guidelines, and instructions in the procurement of medicines to ensure transparency, efficiency, and uninterrupted supply.
Impact Analysis:
Central Government Hospitals (Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lady Hardinge Hospital and Rural Health Training Centre):
* Impact: Must adhere to GFR 2017 and related guidelines for medicine procurement. Need to ensure transparency and efficiency in the procurement process.
* Action Required: Ensure strict compliance with existing government rules and guidelines for medicine procurement.
Pharmaceutical Companies (National and International):
* Impact: Involved in supplying medicines to government hospitals, with payments made post-supply and verification.
* Action Required: Comply with the government's procurement processes and ensure timely and verified supply of medicines.
CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation):
* Impact: Oversees the import licensing of ready-to-use medicines.
* Action Required: Continue to manage and regulate the issuance of import licenses for medicines as per existing guidelines.
Department of Health & Family Welfare:
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring that central government hospitals follow the stipulated guidelines for procurement.
* Action Required: Enforce strict compliance with the government's procurement rules and guidelines among all procuring entities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The government ministry responsible for health and family welfare policies and programs in India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding medicine procurement was raised.
Safdarjung Hospital: A Central Government Hospital located in Delhi, India, mentioned as one of the hospitals procuring medicines.
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital: A Central Government Hospital located in Delhi, India, mentioned as one of the hospitals procuring medicines.
Lady Hardinge Hospital: A Central Government Hospital located in Delhi, India, mentioned as one of the hospitals procuring medicines.
Rural Health Training Centre: A healthcare facility that follows General Financial Rules, 2017 for procurement of medicines.
General Financial Rules, 2017: A set of rules and guidelines followed by Central Government Hospitals for procurement of medicines.
CDSCO: Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation; The data regarding import licenses for ready-to-use medicines is available in the SUGAM database of CDSCO.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2072
TOBE ANSWERED ON01ST AUGUST,2025
PURCHASE OFMEDICINES FORGOVERNMENT HOSPITALS
†2072. SHRICHANDRAPRAKASH CHOUDHARY:
SHRISANATAN PANDEY:
SHRICHANDAN CHAUHAN :
SHRIJUGALKISHORE :
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate :
(a) the norms prescribed by the Government for the purchase of medicines for
Government hospitals in the country and the amendments made in the said norms during the
last three yearsandthe current year,year-wise;
(b) the total cost of the medicines purchased separately from national and international
companiesfor supply toGovernment hospitals during the said period;
(c) whether advance payments were also made to some pharmaceutical companies for
purchasing medicinesandif so, the detailsthereof;
(d) the details of ready to use medicines allowed for import into the country during the
said period;
(e) whether permission had also been given for import of such medicines which were
availableat a lowerpricesinthe countryandif so, thedetailsthereofandthe reasonstherefor;
and
(f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to streamline the process of
procurementof medicines for Government hospitals?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) The Central Government Hospitals namely Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar
Lohia Hospital, LadyHardinge Hospital andRural Health TrainingCentre follow the General
Financial Rules, 2017 (GFR 2017), Manual for Procurement of Goods and other extant
guidelines / instructions issued by the Government of India as amended from time to time
for the procurementof medicines.(b) The total cost of medicines procured by the above mentioned hospitals from national
andinternationalcompanies inthe last three yearsare asbelow:
Name of the Procurement from Procurement from Total Procurement
Hospital National Companies International (inRs. Cr)
(inRs. Cr) Companies (in Rs.
Cr)
SafdarjungHospital 194.92 30.6 225.52
Dr. Ram Manohar 100.89 Nil 100.89
Lohia Hospital
Lady Hardinge 34.12 4.43 38.56
Hospital
Rural Health 8.85 Nil 8.85
Training Centre
(c) Procurement of medicines is done as per the Government rules and payments are
made aftersupply of medicines andnecessary verification.
(d) & (e)As perthe data available from the SUGAM database of CDSCO, import licensesfor
ready-to-use medicines have been issued across various categories, including antimicrobials;
cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and hormonal drugs;
immunomodulators; ophthalmic preparations; nutritionalsupplements; chemotherapeutic;and
radiodiagnostic agents.
The details of import licenses issued during the last three financial years are as
follows:
Financial No.ofImportLicensesIssued
Year
2022-23 141
2023-24 226
2024-25 113
(f) All procuring entities including Central Government Hospitals under the Department
of Health & Family Welfare are instructed for strict compliance of the Government rules /
guidelines / instructions in procurement of medicines to ensure transparency, efficiency and
uninterruptedsupply.
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