Sri Vijaya Puram, October 5: The Directorate of Health Services has stepped up procurement and stock monitoring across Andaman and Nicobar Islands to prevent shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies, with fresh consignments expected from Government Medical Store Depots in Chennai and Kolkata.
The measures follow directions from the Lieutenant Governor and cover medicines, medical equipment and other items required for patient care across health institutions under the Directorate.
The Directorate said most essential medicines are currently available in sufficient quantities across its health institutions. It has, however, placed supply orders for medicines showing low stock levels, particularly commonly used drugs required for treating routine ailments.
The medicines covered by the orders include Levetiracetam 500 mg tablets, Amoxycillin and Clavulanate 625 mg tablets, Amoxycillin capsules, Pantoprazole tablets, Atorvastatin 10 mg and 20 mg tablets, Azithromycin tablets, Atenolol 50 mg tablets and Norfloxacin-Tinidazole tablets.
To support replenishment, the Directorate has asked the Government Medical Store Depots in Chennai and Kolkata to maintain regular and timely supply against indents placed by the health authorities.
Around 285 cartons containing insulin and essential medicines from GMSD Chennai and another 520 cartons of essential medicines from GMSD Kolkata are expected to arrive shortly, according to the Directorate.
Health authorities are monitoring procurement, supply movement and stock positions across hospitals and other health institutions under the overall supervision of the Administration. Officials have also been instructed to review inventory levels regularly and ensure supplies reach institutions in time for distribution.
The Directorate is also preparing another round of procurement to strengthen buffer stocks. Supply orders for 192 medicines used to manage conditions including hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases, thyroid disorders, epilepsy and gastrointestinal diseases will be issued shortly.
The measures are aimed at maintaining access to necessary medicines and healthcare supplies while addressing low-stock positions before they affect routine patient care. The Directorate said the ongoing procurement and distribution process is intended to ensure patients receive necessary medicines and healthcare services without avoidable inconvenience.
