FW: Supply of Medicines

[commodor...@gmail.com]

Dear Sirs,

I am forwarding a complaint I made to ECHS today for information. Others having similar issues may kindly write to ECHS authorities directly to have any impact.

Regards,

Brijesh

 

From: commodor...@gmail.com <commodor...@gmail.com>
Sent: 11 August 2025 10:52
To: 'Col Pranav Prasoon' <dirrc...@echs.gov.in>
Cc: 'ECHS Greater NOIDA (echsgrea...@gmail.com)' <echsgrea...@gmail.com>; 'MDECHS (mdech...@nic.in)' <mdech...@nic.in>
Subject: Supply of Medicines

 

Dear Sir,

This mail is in connection with the new practice of ECHS polyclinics buying NA medicines centrally through the ALCs and stopping the local purchase route. The policy is well-intentioned, aims to reduce the cost of medicines and thus a good initiative which needs to be supported. But, as is always the case, all new initiatives throw up a few issues that need to be sorted out before the initiatives become established. The aim of this missive is to bring one such issue that needs to be resolved early-delay in the supply of medicines which is inherent in a more centralized system as opposed to a more decentralized system that was in vogue until recently. To illustrate the issue, I will narrate our experience this month.

Today, namely, 11 August 2025, my wife, aged 73,  went and saw the gynecologist in the Polyclinic for a possible urinary tract infection. The gynecologist prescribed her two medicines and a Urine Culture. The Polyclinic however did not have the antibiotic, namely Nitrofurantoin, and asked her to contact the person handling ALC in the polyclinic to get the medicine. The ALC route of getting medicines can take 2-4 or even 5 days and this kind of delay was UNACCEPTABLE to us because it would have meant anything up to 5 days for her to get any relief from the painful condition. We therefore bought the medicines from the nearest dispensary.

Our monthly medicines for Aug 2025, though prescribed on 05 Aug 2025, were delivered to us today on reporting to the Polyclinic- that is after 5 days.

I am 76 and my wife is 73 and thus both of us are super senior citizens, as defined by ECHS. To make us run to ECHS Polyclinic to collect medicines is against the policy that has been enunciated for home delivery of medicines by the ECHS.

In view of the foregoing, the following is recommended Super senior citizens be exempted from getting their medicines from the ALC route (I may add that our dispensary gives a discount of 18% on the bill and delivers medicines home the same day by evening). Such a measure will also be compliance with the ECHS’ enunciated policy of getting the buddhas medicines home in the fastest manner.

 

Thanks,

 

Cmde Brijesh, NM

[Ravindra Waman Pathak]

Dear  Cmde Brijesh

The issue of medicine has been completely mishandled by ECHS.

May views as follows

1. The introduction of e-CDL has eliminated many medicines from the software. Though a procedure exists for adding medicines after recommendation by SEMO the procedure goes into a limbo once suchSEMO request reach Centorg. A case i know is of Khadki polyclinic. The SEMO recommended 150 medicines for inclusion in CDL. This is luying unactioned for I think 3 or 4 months.I am prescribed a creme by MH for Old age eczema. In CDL this has vanished and now Yellow Petroleum Wax is in CDL. I got an NAC as it was not available in the ALC co-located with polyclinic and MH. Unfortunately this is not available in the market including with the Main stockist in  Pune.
2. Home delivery of Medicine was first proposed by me to then MD designate posted in Southern Command. He progressed the case with a view that it will reduce cost of delivery and reduction in manpower/space and increase satisfaction level to 100% The level reached was RFI and I think an epharma was selected. But then the babudom kicked in and a RFI was started calling for responses from 3 tenders ( Lowest tender policy) and finally we got a fairly botched up Home delivery system with delivery through the Post office.Frankly this new home delivery system will not work for various reasons which I will not discuss here unless E-sehat and this policy is revised and a new system introduced.
3. Location of ALC Unless the ALC is colocated with the polyclinic issue of NAC is going to be delayed.The ALC if colocated will either give the medicine which is NA in pharmacy of polyclinic or state not available with them thus allowing the polyclinic to issue NAC immediately.Avoiding any  delay and gaps in patients taking medicine. IMHO ECHS must make all ALC colocated with polyclinic

Overall we can expect better service when e-sehat and home delivery though an e-pharmacy are introduced simultaneously. I think the e-sehat for ECHS is caught up or delayed due L1 vendor selection

Brgds

Pathak

I am a proud Hindu and I believe Ahimsa, essentially, is doing everything to stop Himsa. Ahimsa is not the absence of Himsa, but the use of Sam, Dam, Danda, and Bhed to achieve peace.

 People often ask me what we can do for the soldiers. The answer is "be an Indian who is worth fighting for. "See if you can be one"

Do I have enemies? Yes.Good. That means I’ve stood up for something, sometime in my life.

Cdr Ravindra Waman Pathak I.N. (Veteran)

Member Veterans Pension Group

Adviser War Widows Association

1 Surashri,1146 Lakaki Road
Shivajinagar 

Pune 411016
raviw...@gmail.com
9822329340  

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[Helping Hands For Veterans]

Dear Sir,

As per the policy in vogue, if prescribed medicines are not available at the ECHS Polyclinic, the same must be procured by the Polyclinic through the Authorised Local Chemist (ALC). The stipulated time frame for procurement is 24 hours if the ALC is located within the same municipal area, and 72 hours if the ALC is located outside the municipal area.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dezu3Gxv0Yc4NENKc8evNnJG9ElcWf9t/view?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11h29N_3sn7OZ5_lbAEpiRr47ywWjL3H_/view?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/106JoJLSpBZguD-blDsCPYv6FN6uVxXQP/view?usp=drive_link

Suppose the ECHS Polyclinic is unable to provide the medicines within the above time limits. In that case, beneficiaries can purchase the medicines out of pocket, and the expenditure will be eligible for reimbursement. In such cases, no separate Non-Availability (NA) Certificate is required—a valid prescription issued by the Medical Officer (MO) at the ECHS Polyclinic will suffice for claim processing.

Regards, 

[commodor...@gmail.com]

Good morning and thank you Sir. Deeply obliged.

Warm regards,

Brijesh