HP may amend medicine purchase policy

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal informed the state Assembly on Thursday that the government would examine possibilities of making changes in its medicine purchase policy to buy drugs from leading pharma companies based in the state.

The CM’s was replying to Congress leader Gangu Ram Musafir’s question related to allocation of funds for purchase of medicines for government hospitals.

When G S Bali of the Congress suggested that since companies like Cipla,Ranbaxy,Cadila,Dr Reddy’s and Torrent were manufacturing their medicines in Himachal,now the government should try to make direct bulk purchases from these. He said this would help in getting the quality medicines on competitive rates.

“It’s a good suggestion. The health department will explore the possibilities of direct purchases from these companies,which will certainly offload charges of packaging and transport,” Dhumal said.

Health Minister Dr Rajeev Bindal said the government had a budget of Rs 25,93 crore for purchase of medicines and equipment. The purchases are made through HP State Civil Supplies Corporation on competitive bidding basis.