Central agency for buying, distributing drugs for all govt depts, institutions mooted

The Centre is planning to set up a central procurement agency for buying and distributing medicines to all medical institutions under the government departments, with a view to bring in more transparency in such dealings.

A cabinet note has already been prepared in this regard by the ministry of health and has been sent to all concerned ministries and departments for comments and inputs. The note will be submitted to the cabinet once the feedbacks come from these departments, it is learnt.

According to the proposal, a central agency called Medical Services Corporation will be set up to procure and distribute drugs and other medical equipments to all institutions coming under different departments like health and railways, besides those coming under the State governments. "Transparency, equitability and competitiveness will be the parameters in the procurement policy being planned by the ministry," according to a senior official in the ministry.