The Union Health Ministry has asked the States to follow the model of Tamil Nadu for purchase of drugs for public health programmes, with a view to ensure transparency, availability, and distribution as the model has proved to be very effective.

“There is also great merit in making bulk purchase of drugs through a specialised agency. This not only ensures better quality but also reduces the prices. States may like to examine the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation model set up by the Government of Tamil Nadu for the purchase of drugs for public health programmes,” the Health Ministry told the States, at a recent meeting of Health Secretaries here.

The Centre also wanted the States to set up special courts to tackle the spurious drugs cases. “It is also important that once the drug samples fail quality and safety standards, prosecutions are launched and culprits are booked quickly. There is need to set up Special Courts to try prosecution cases under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Many have already designated Special Courts for such trails while others also should act on a priority basis,” the meeting was told.

“While promoting the generic drugs, it is important that a rational Fixed Dose Combinations (FDC) are weeded out from the market. This not only enhances the price of the drug but also leads to several other health consequences including drug resistance. While granting licenses for manufacture of FDCs, State Drug Regulators must be very careful regarding efficacy of such drugs,” the written brief by the Centre said.

Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Ltd was set up with the primary objective of ensuring ready availability of all essential drugs and medicines in the Govt Medical Institutions throughout the State by adopting a streamlined procedure for their procurement, storage and distribution. TNMSC aim is to make the drugs and materials available to the poorest of the poor and “Service to the Public.”

It handles procurement, testing, storage and distribution of medicines, surgicals, kits and reagents to the Government Medical Institutions of the State. It finalises rate contract every two years for various frequently used surgical appliances, Instruments for direct procurement by the medical institutions in the State.

Recently, the public interest organisations have also called for adopting the time-tested TN model across the country. The Jan Arogya Abhiyaan (JAA), a network of NGOs working on health issues in Maharashtra, urged the State Government to implement it. Kerala has adopted it and other states like Rajasthan and Bihar are also in the process.