Chandigarh: Audit reveals medicine shortage in GMCH-32

During the period covered by the audit, the charge of the Director-Principal of GMCH-32 was held by Dr Jasbinder Kaur, and the charge of the Drawing & Disbursing Officer was held by Anil Kumar Kamboj. The audit department said they notified the GMCH of these findings, but did not receive a “tenable” reply. A final reply is still awaited.

The audit, conducted by an audit team headed by Pritam Kumar, and assisted by Prabhat Ranjan, AAO, under the supervision of Narinder Kumar Langoo, senior audit officer, took place from February 5, 2024, to March 15, 2024.

Not available

The audit identified specific medicines that were out of stock, detailing the duration of their unavailability and eventual restocking dates:

1. Adhesive Dressing (Essential)
– Unavailability from: October 31, 2022
– Duration: 151 days
– Restocked on: December 22, 2023
Total days of unavailability: 417 days

2. Tab. Clonazepam (Essential), for managing seizures and panic disorders
– Unavailability from: January 23, 2023
– Duration: 67 days
– Restocking date: Not available

3. Tab. Digoxin (Essential), used in the treatment of various heart conditions
– Unavailability from: December 19, 2022
– Duration: 102 days
– Restocked on: April 13, 2023
Total days of unavailability: 80 days

4. Tab. Lorazepam 1 mg (Essential), often prescribed for anxiety disorders, insomnia, and sedation before surgical procedures
– Unavailability from: February 22, 2023
– Duration: 37 days
– Restocked on: May 13, 2023
Total days of unavailability: 80 days

5. Vancomycin 500 mg (Essential), an antibiotic used to treat severe bacterial infections
– Unavailability from: December 5, 2022
– Duration: 116 days
– Restocked on: July 8, 2023
Total days of unavailability: 215 days

6. Artesunate 60 mg/ml Vial (Vital), used for treating severe malaria
– Unavailability from: March 21, 2023
– Duration: 10 days
– Restocked on: May 24, 2023
Total days of unavailability: 64 days

7. Hepatitis B Immunoglobin (Vital), administered to prevent Hepatitis B infection, especially important for newborns
– Unavailability from: March 10, 2023
– Duration: 21 days
– Restocked on: April 5, 2023
Total days of unavailability: 24 days

8. Phenobarbitone (Vital), used primarily for controlling seizures in epilepsy
– Unavailability from: March 25, 2023
– Duration: 6 days
– Restocked on: May 12, 2023
Total days of unavailability: 48 days

The audit underscored that the Medicine Committee is responsible for scrutinising available medicines based on demand from various departments and previous consumption data to determine annual procurement quantities. However, the scrutiny revealed delays in making these drugs available, ranging from 24 to 417 days.