Drug warehouses in all dists to avoid delay in supply

JALANDHAR: The engineering wing of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) has written to all civil surgeons in the state to identify government buildings that can be used as drug warehouses in their respective districts. These buildings should have four to five rooms.

The move is aimed at setting up well-equipped drug warehouses in every district to ensure 24-hour availability of drugs for government health centres.

Presently, Punjab has three central drug warehouses at Kharar in Mohali, Verka in Amritsar, and Bathinda.

A total of 214 types of medicines, which are given free of cost to patients at government hospitals, are being provided by these central drug stores.

As per government orders, it is mandatory for doctors to prescribe medicines available within the hospital.

State health director, Rajiv Bhalla, said PHSC is working on the project and has asked the engineering wing for further details.

After the buildings are identified, the process to develop them as drug warehouses will be initiated. Besides, once the warehouses are set up, local health units will no longer require to visit central stores.

PHSC HAS ASKED CIVIL SURGEONS TO IDENTIFY GOVT BUILDINGS THAT CAN BE USED AS DRUG WAREHOUSES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS