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The Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation (KSMSC) is now all set to procure tenders for pharmaceutical supplies, potentially worth Rs. 800 crore, with a focus on stringent quality control measures. The corporation had earlier invited tenders for 100 drugs worth Rs. 485 crore. All this would include multiple checks and testing for each batch of drugs to ensure the highest standards are maintained.
The state government is hell bent to see that all its medical facilities including the 2,127 primary health centres, and around 600 taluk, community health care centres and government multispecialty hospitals get the regular supply of quality certified lifesaving drugs among other medications to its facilities. This follows after the unfortunate tragedy in December 2024 of the lactating mothers in Ballari district hospital and Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) succumbing because of the use of substandard IV fluid Ringer’s Lactate, manufactured by the West Bengal-based company Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals.
The untoward development has prompted the KSMSC to issue tenders worth Rs. 800 crore, incorporating strict guidelines that mandate comprehensive checks and testing for each batch of drugs, said Karnataka health and family welfare minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
It is gathered that all government medical centres require Rs. 800 crore worth of life saving drugs.
The corporation serves as the nodal agency responsible for procuring drugs, consumables, and equipment for government-run health institutions. The state health department said that in the last few months a number of changes have been brought into the tendering process to improve the quality of drugs.
Previously, medicines were procured in bulk for the entire year, but now, orders will be placed in phases. This shift ensures that drugs are used before their expiry dates, optimizes space at local drug warehouses, and minimizes the risk of stockpiling low-quality drugs due to factors like weather fluctuations. This phased approach is expected to significantly reduce instances of not-of-standard-quality (NSQ) drugs, improving the overall efficacy of the state’s healthcare supply chain.
Suppliers are required to deliver general drugs within 30 days of production, while injections, IV fluids, and sterile products must be delivered within 40 days. Additionally, imported medicines must have a minimum shelf life of 60% at the time of delivery. A dedicated team will visit pharmaceutical units to conduct thorough checks, according to health department officials.
It is reported that M Kanaga Valli, managing director, KSMSC who took on the helm early this year said that quarantine system has been introduced at all warehouses to ensure the drugs retain quality.
Even though product quality was validated based on the manufacturers in-house or by facilities that are certified by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), drug testing will be carried out at all stages and if there is an issue, the concerned will be held accountable. Even the Aushada software has a module that allows health institutions to report complaints of adverse drug reactions to use of drugs.
Many measures have been implemented to ensure optimal drug procurement. We have streamlined the tender process to encourage greater participation from more companies, and payment-related issues have been addressed to facilitate smoother transactions, said health minister Rao.
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