Audit Report: 19 percent shortage of essential medicines at GMCH 32

The audit report, which scrutinized the availability of essential medicines at GMCH-32, found that 51 out of 272 essential medicines were not in stock, reflecting a 19% shortfall. Vital medications also faced significant scarcity, with 10 out of 81 vital medicines, or 12%, being unavailable. The shortage was even more pronounced among desirable medicines, with 2 out of 7, or 29%, missing from inventory, reports the Daily. 

During the period assessed by the audit, the positions of Director-Principal and Drawing & Disbursing Officer of GMCH-32 were held by Dr Jasbinder Kaur and Anil Kumar Kamboj, respectively. The audit department communicated these findings to the GMCH administration but noted that the hospital's response was not deemed "tenable." A conclusive response from the GMCH is still pending.

As per a recent media report by The IndianExpress, the audit identified specific medicines that were out of stock, detailing the duration of their unavailability and eventual restocking dates. 

The audit conducted by a team led by Pritam Kumar and assisted by Prabhat Ranjan, AAO, under the supervision of Narinder Kumar Langoo, senior audit officer, was carried out from February 5, 2024, to March 15, 2024. The audit highlights a critical issue that could affect patient care and treatment outcomes at GMCH-32. The shortage of essential medications underscores the need for improved inventory management and procurement processes to ensure that vital and desirable medicines are always available for patients in need.  

The audit emphasized that to set annual procurement quantities, the Medicine Committee must carefully examine the available drugs based on demand from many departments and consider the previous consumption data. Nevertheless, the investigation uncovered 417–24 days of delays in the drug's availability.

The findings have sparked concern among healthcare professionals and the general public, raising questions about the efficiency of the hospital's supply chain and the accountability of its management. Authorities are now urged to take immediate action to address the identified shortages and ensure that such deficiencies do not recur in the future.