Haryana Health Department warns of action over discrepancies in hospital medicine stock records

Gurgaon: The Haryana health department has directed government hospitals to maintain accurate, up-to-date medicine stock records on the online drug management portal, warning that discrepancies between digital entries and physical inventories could lead to action against responsible officials.

Civil surgeons across the state have been asked to ensure that healthcare facilities promptly record medicine purchases, availability and consumption, including medicines procured locally. The Essential Drug List (EDL) will serve as a reference for monitoring stock availability, with institutions required to verify that portal records reflect the medicines actually held in their stores.

The department has also stressed that medicines supplied through the government system should be prescribed to patients whenever available. The move is intended to improve the use of government-provided medicines and reduce avoidable inconvenience for patients.

Officials have been instructed to conduct regular stock checks and monitor consumption to identify discrepancies and prevent lapses in inventory management.

Separately, the Haryana Medical Services Corporation Limited (HMSCL) has introduced tighter access-control measures for staff areas where confidential files and procurement-related documents are maintained.

Under the directions issued by the corporation’s managing director, biometric access-control gates are to be installed at staff areas to prevent unauthorised entry into offices and cabins. Visitors will not be permitted to enter restricted areas without approval.

Biometric attendance has been made mandatory for officers and employees, who will be required to record their attendance through the system. Visitors will have to enter their details in a designated register and wait in designated areas. Meetings with staff will have to follow the prescribed procedure, with visitors barred from accessing restricted areas without authorisation, TOI reported.

The corporation has warned that violations could invite disciplinary action and directed officials to ensure compliance with the instructions.

The measures cover two aspects of healthcare administration: improving accountability in medicine stock management across government facilities and strengthening the security of sensitive records at HMSCL.