Jaipur: Following multiple post-caesarean deaths in Kota and Bikaner since last month, and complications following similar procedures in Jodhpur more recently, the Rajasthan health department has barred govt medical institutions from directly administering locally-purchased medicines to patients until they receive laboratory clearance.Detailed guidelines to this effect were issued Tuesday following a TOI report that highlighted gaps in the testing of certain drugs used in maternal care.The news report published Tuesday, titled “Gap in drug-testing comes under scrutiny after postpartum deaths”, highlighted how patients at govt hospitals were being put at risk by being administered untested medicines.The gaps in drug testing came to light after postpartum deaths and delivery complications among women in govt hospitals in Kota, Bikaner and Jodhpur districts.The new directives state that medicines will be distributed only after they are cleared by laboratory tests. Until then, the use of such medicines will be minimised.Each incoming batch will be quarantined until it meets ‘standard quality’ norms, with random samples sent to the Govt Drug Testing Laboratory or a recognised NABL lab for expedited testing.Institutions will allocate 1% to 1.5% of the amount payable to the vendor to fund the tests and related expenses.“The guidelines also introduce punitive action against vendors supplying substandard drugs. If any drug is found to be ‘Not of Standard Quality’ during testing, payment to the vendor will be stopped, and they may be debarred under Rule 11 of the Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement Rules, 2013,” a senior health department official said.The new guidelines also establish accountability for financial lapses.Any irregularity in local drug procurement or budget management will lead to the drawing and disbursing officer (DDO) and members of the buying committee being held personally responsible and liable for disciplinary action.Additionally, under the new guidelines, the state drug controller will conduct monthly surprise inspections of govt medical institutions to check the availability and maintenance of locally-purchased medicine stocks, as well as to collect regulatory samples for testing.Heads of govt medical institutions have been mandated to cooperate fully during these inspections.Under the state govt’s free medicine scheme, all medicines on the Essential Drugs List (EDL) are provided free to patients at govt hospitals.The Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL) handles procurement under this scheme, allowing medical institutions to buy EDL medicines locally if RMSCL cannot provide them, using up to 10% of their annual medicine budget.
