HEALTH Department to set up online inventory management system

Chandigarh, July 16, 2013: The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab has decided to set up scientifically designed Warehouses for storage and distribution of medicines and putting in place an online inventory management system for ensuring effective online management and monitoring of drugs storage and distribution at various warehouses and government health facilities across the state of Punjab.

The MoU for setting up of Online Inventory Management Systems was signed here between the C-DAC, Noida and Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab in the august presence of Madan Mohan Mittal, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab.

Mittal divulging about new system said that three regional warehouses are being constructed at Amritsar, Bathinda and Kharar (Mohali) as per the designs of warehouses of Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC). Construction of these three Regional Warehouses is expected to be completed by 31st Oct, 2013.

Health Minister said that for online inventory management, the matter was taken up with C-DAC who has developed Online Inventory Management Systems for Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Ltd, Rajasthan for developing the implementing the similar systems in the State of Punjab. He added that the online inventory management system is expected to be operational soon.

He said that the online inventory management system will bring more transparency in the procurement and distribution of drugs and consumables and establish online link between State Headquarter, Regional warehouses and hospitals.

Minister added that the new system would enable assessment of requirements of drugs as per the past consumption pattern, deciding reordering levels, identify fast and slow moving drugs, Monitor testing of drugs by generating secret codes, monitor value of drugs drawn from the stores by the hospitals vis-a-vis performance/ norm/ workload/ entitlement of the hospitals.

Present on the occasion Vini Mahajn Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare informed that each and every batch of drugs will be easily locatable, Online tracking of drug inventory at various health institutions in the state, supplier wise track record to provide a profile of suppliers, tracking of supplies from the manufacturing premises of the suppliers to the Regional Warehouses.

Husan Lal, MD, Punjab Health Services Corporation briefing about the Online Inventory Management System said that this system is expected to streamline the supply chain management of medicines and consumables at various Government Health Institutions across the State of Punjab. 

Others prominent present on the occasion were Dr. Ashok Nayar, Director Health Punjab and Dr. Rajesh Sharma Joint Director PHSC.