The government pharmacists in Kerala have demanded that the state Government should make some amendments in the newly proposed Corporation for procurement, storage and distribution of medicines. A dharna is being planned in front of the Secretariat on March 13 to press for these demands.

As Pharmabiz had reported earlier, the Kerala government has decided to form the corporation in line with those in Tamil Nadu and Delhi. The proposed body would aid in procurement, storage and distribution of medicines in the health centres and hospitals of the state. But the government pharmacists feel that there are some areas where the government need to bring about some changes.

The government pharmacists are asking for retention the prevalent intending system developed and followed in Kerala over a period of time. Under this system the medicines are procured after thoroughly assessing the need of the doctors and hospitals. But once the corporation is formed, the medicines would be purchased in bulk based on the essential drugs list and the hospitals or doctors should take it based on their needs.

"As such the corporation itself is not necessary, but since the LDF government has taken the decision it cannot be changed. We are not protesting against the establishment of the corporation, but we want some changes in it," said a source.

Replying to the allegation that medicines were dumped in the centres, he said, "It is baseless. Let them show some proof that such a practice was followed due to the intending system. If such a thing has happened earlier it was due to the clerical error and the handiwork of some bad elements in the CPC. The government should take action against them. Most of the medicines lying are substandard medicines."

Stating that even the government pharmacists wanted the CPC to be dumped but at the same time the intending system to be retained. He stated that if the intending system were not followed in the corporation then the same dumping would take place again.

The Government pharmacists are also protesting against the establishment of regional medical stores under the new corporation. "Once the supply order is sent the medicines would be given to the regional centres from there it would be supplied to the district medical centres and from there to the outlets. The government is claiming that the regional centres are being started for quicker stocktaking and payment, but this can be done in the district centres itself. So where is the need for regional centres," said a source.

Stating that the establishment of the corporation would be done using the amount allocated for the procurement of medicines in the State, he said that the storage facilities in the district medical stores were very poor. The working coolers were functional only in 2 districts and the in the remaining 12 it was not there. But no steps were being taken to improve this. Hence he wanted the government to improve such facilities before venturing into forming a corporation.

Stating that it was the Central Purchasing Committee (CPC) that was being renamed as the Corporation, he said that there were certain government norms to be followed in the CPC, as it was a powerful body. He said, that the government should see to that the same rules were applicable when the corporation becomes functional.

Speaking about the induction of the staff members in the corporation, he said, "There should be people who are adept in issues related to the pharma industry like stock officers, additional director of pharmacy etc. Only then can there be proper procurement of medicines. But sadly this had not been followed in the CPC or the newly proposed corporation."