Healthcare Reform – Andhra Pradesh Orders Review of Medicine Supply System
Healthcare Reform – The minister issued the instructions during a review meeting at the State Secretariat on Friday, where senior health department officials examined issues related to medicine availability, infrastructure projects and staffing requirements.
Expert panel to examine procurement gaps
A high-level committee headed by Director of Medical Education Dr. Vishnuvardhan has been asked to study weaknesses in the current procurement and supply process. The panel will submit a detailed action plan within two weeks.
Its members include the Director of Public Health, Director of Secondary Health, senior representatives of the Andhra Pradesh Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation, hospital superintendents and pharmacists. The committee will also review the medicine procurement system followed in Tamil Nadu to identify practices that could be adapted in Andhra Pradesh.
Focus on accurate hospital demand estimates
During the meeting, Yadav raised concerns over the existing quarterly demand and supply process. He said medicine requirements should be calculated using reliable hospital-level data instead of broad estimates.
Officials have been asked to consider outpatient and inpatient attendance, patient footfall trends and actual demand from individual hospitals while preparing supply plans. The aim is to prevent shortages caused by incorrect data, delayed orders or gaps in transportation.
The minister also instructed APMSIDC to prepare a fixed procurement calendar for surgical instruments and advanced medical equipment. Purchases will be planned according to hospital indents, with the intention of improving competition among suppliers and ensuring better value for public funds.
Critical care and laboratory projects near completion
The review also covered several healthcare infrastructure projects underway across the state. Preparations are being made for the proposed visit of Union Health Minister JP Nadda, during which nine completed Critical Care Blocks and 12 Integrated Public Health Laboratories are expected to be inaugurated.
State officials are also pursuing discussions on establishing an All India Institute of Ayurveda in Andhra Pradesh. The proposal is part of broader efforts to expand AYUSH services and education in the state.
Construction of 150 AYUSH dispensaries, developed at an estimated cost of Rs 44 crore, is nearing completion. Land acquisition is progressing for six integrated AYUSH hospitals with a proposed investment of Rs 90 crore. Work is also moving ahead on three AYUSH colleges supported by Rs 210 crore.
Medical college and primary health works reviewed
Yadav directed National Health Mission officials to speed up construction work at government medical colleges in Paderu, Piduguralla and Machilipatnam.
He also reviewed infrastructure works worth Rs 1,450 crore that include 100 Primary Health Centres, nine Community Health Centres, 20 Urban Health Centres and 4,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Officials were instructed to closely monitor timelines and avoid delays in completing the projects.
Food laboratory accreditation and staffing plans
The minister asked the department to obtain NABL accreditation within three months for the State Food Laboratories in Tirupati and Visakhapatnam. The laboratories, established with an investment of Rs 45 crore, have already begun testing activities.
To address staff shortages in the food safety wing, officials were directed to obtain financial approval for recruiting 78 Food Safety Officers and filling 72 newly sanctioned posts.
The department has also been asked to fill around 150 vacant positions from the 278 posts allocated during the state bifurcation. These appointments are expected to strengthen food laboratory operations in Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Tirumala, Tirupati and Kurnool.