New Delhi – Public Health and hospitals is a state subject, the primary responsibility of States and Union Territories (UTs) to provide quality healthcare services including distribution of life-saving and generic drugs in public health facilities.
Under the National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to the States and UTs for strengthening their healthcare delivery system including support for provision of essential drugs free of cost to those who access public health facilities.
Availability of the drugs is being monitored through Drug and Vaccine Distribution Management System (DVDMS), a web-based Supply Chain Management System that deals in purchase, supply, distribution and inventory management of various drugs, sutures, surgical and consumable items.
It has an in-built provision of monitoring and checking the availability of medicine at all facilities at district and state level.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the department of pharmaceuticals, ministry of chemicals & fertilizers and government of India to avail quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all,
The scheme provided 5365 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan aushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) which are functional across the country.
The Ministry has provided illustrative list of essential medicines that should be provided at sub centres, primary health centres, community Health centres and district hospitals with 57, 285, 455, 544 medicines respectively.
The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) is one of the key instruments in healthcare delivery system of a country which inter alia includes accessible, affordable quality medicine at all the primary, secondary, tertiary levels of healthcare.
Free Drugs Service Initiative (FDSI) of National Health Mission, provided financial support to States and UTs for provision of free essential medicines in public health facilities based on the requirements.
